Jack Mcloughlin
What employment sector do you work in?
Private Sector
How long have you had a green job for nature?
>1 year
Salary Range – Full Time Equivalent
£30,001 – £40,000
Please describe the work that you do.
I support clients with ensuring that their proposed development complies with UK ecological law, policy and guidance when submitting planning applications.
This involves carrying out or managing subcontractors to complete phase 1 and relevant phase 2 surveys (e.g. UKhab, bats, birds). The results of which then inform assessments (e.g. BNG) which factor into the ecological chapter of the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
What do you most like about your job? Any dislikes?
Field surveys are my favourite part of the job – especially bird or mammal surveys. Just getting out and about seeing nature in action in a wide range of settings is always fascinating to me and when you get some interesting sightings like a kingfisher perching in front of you or finding footage of badgers that’s always worthwhile.
Also the range of people I get to work with makes for interesting conversation and learning about how people from different backgrounds have come into the sector I always find very interesting. Sometimes it turns out to be a very small world and making those connections has been valuable for my career.
My only dislike so far extends to the industry as a whole and its regarding the expectations that early career ecologists need to spend a lot of their own time volunteering or going out doing informal training in order to achieve licences or the necessary field experience required to lead surveys etc. My company has been good at supporting any training I’ve requested so far but its an issue I’ve heard from others across the sector.
What inspired you into this career?
I started as an environmental consultant at the company before transitioning into ecology. Before this role I had some knowledge from my dad who worked an ornithologist but had not realised how much I enjoyed doing it as a job given it had always just been a hobby of sorts.
After seconding a few surveys with ecologists in the company I realised I did enjoy the field work and later the reporting elements. With my environmental role having some overlap already it was easy to transition into the new role.
I had also spoken with other colleagues that had transitioned into ecology from roles in the climate, sustainability and water teams and that encouraged me to make the change.
Have you faced any challenges in progressing your career so far?
My company and colleagues have been very supportive of my move into the ecology team as well as with a move in location/office.
There has also been a wealth of information and resources made available to me that’s supported me in determining what I would like to specialise in, for example reading materials, field keys and training.
The only difficulty I feel I have faced is again the fact I’ve had to put aside a fair bit of my personal time to developing my field skills.
I do now know however there are local groups you can join that would make the task less daunting and also give some useful steer on how to progress in the sector.
What education/training did you have?
I studied environmental science at university which touched on the basics of ecology but provided very little field experience. The focus was more on broader themes as well as policy and law in the UK that underpins alot of the work I do now.
Since becoming an ecologist I’ve participated in a range of training including field first aid, field ornithology, UKHab mapping, indicator plant species, and plenty of informal training from CIEEM webinars.
What advice would you give to someone coming into the profession?
From my experience in consultancy and from speaking with others across the sector the following appear to be key:
– drivers licence and sometimes your own vehicle
– demonstrating passion for the field through volunteering if you haven’t had employment
– be vocal about your particular interests (nothing wrong with being generalist) as that will open opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in that area
– attending webinars or events to expand your network
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Tags: England, Private sector, Ecologist, Ecological consultant, Ecological surveyor
Date profile submitted: 29/06/2025
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