Graduate Ecologist

Graduate / Apprentice Ecologist

Full‑time role

Location: Cork

The Opportunity

PUNCH consulting Engineers, a COWI Company is seeking a graduate Ecologist to join our growing ecology and environmental team in January 2027. This is a two-year structured development role designed for someone who wants to build a career in ecology and environmental consultancy The opportunity is suitable for both recent graduates and for individuals seeking to transition into ecology or environmental consultancy from another relevant scientific, environmental or technical field, or those changing career following training. We are committed to flexibility in terms suitable backgrounds. The successful candidate will work on projects across a range of sectors and scales while undertaking a structured programme of technical and professional development.

Rather than focusing solely on ecological surveying, the programme provides broad training across ecology, environmental assessment, environmental law, GIS, Environmental Science and project Management.

You will work alongside ecologists, environmental specialists, planners, engineers and other technical professionals within PUNCH, with opportunities to engage with specialists’ expertise across the wide COWI organisation.

Your key responsibilities:

As a Graduate Ecologist, you will support the delivery of ecological and environmental work across multidisciplinary projects.  Your responsibilities will develop throughout the programme and will include:

• undertaking ecological desk studies;
• undertaking habitat surveys and habitat mapping;
• recording, managing and interpreting ecological field data;
• training in the preparation of ecological survey reports and the full suite of environmental assessment reports include EIAR, AA, SEA etc.;
• contributing to environmental constraints assessments;
• training in GIS and environmental constraints mapping;
• Training in environmental legislation, policy and guidance;
• Training in project planning and delivery.

As your competence develops, you will take increasing responsibility for defined ecological surveys, assessments and project work packages.

Key Skills & Experience

You will participate in the PUNCH Ecology Graduate Development Programme, which provides structured training and experience across six core areas:

1. Ecology and Field Skills: Practical training in terrestrial ecology, preliminary, ecological appraisal, habitat mapping and botanical skills, together with arranged specialist training in bid and bat surveying
2. Environmental assessment: Training and experience in environmental reporting, Ecological Impact Assessment, Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment,
3. Environmental Law: Training in Irish and EU environmental Legislation and legal framework underpinning EIA, Appropriate Assessment, environmental protection and project consenting.
4. GIS for Environmental Scientists: Practical GIS training focused on environmental data, constraints assessment, survey mapping and professional environmental figures.
5. Environmental Science: Structured learning in biodiversity, terrestrial ecology, water quality, land, soils and geology, climates change and sustainability
6. Project Management and Consultancy: Development of Project planning, communication, commercial awareness, multidisciplinary working and client-facing skills.

Essential Criteria:

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Ecology, Environmental Science, Biology, Zoology, Botany, Geography, Natural Sciences, or another relevant discipline, or equivalent relevant scientific/environmental experience.
• An interest in environmental assessment and infrastructure development.
• The ability to understand and communicate scientific information.
• Excellent written communication skills;
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail;
• A willingness and basic fitness to undertake fieldwork.
• A willingness to develop botanical and ecological identification skills.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Enthusiasm for continued professional learning.
• Full driving license.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous ecological field experience.
• Botanical identification experience.
• Bird or bat survey experience.
• Familiarity with GIS.
• Knowledge of Irish habitats and species.
• Previous environmental consultancy experience.
• Knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and/or Appropriate Assessment (AA).
• Previous work experience in areas such as project management, policy development, or report writing.
• Familiarity with environmental legislation.
• Membership of CIEEM or another relevant professional body.
• Experience gained through volunteering, research, conservation organisations, academic projects, or citizen science initiatives.

Fieldwork:

Ecological consultancy work involves seasonal fieldwork, and candidates should be comfortable working outdoors in a variety of environments.

Some survey work, particularly bird and bat surveys, may require early morning, evening, or occasional night-time working.

Appropriate training, supervision, and equipment will be provided.

The role will involve travel to project sites throughout Ireland.

What we also offer:
To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We want to take care of our people professionally and personally as well.

Some of our benefits include:

• Competitive remuneration package is on offer, commensurate with experience
• Pension scheme
• 24 days annual leave
• A Structured two-year professional development programme
• Support for CIEEM membership and continuing professional development
• Experience across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure and development projects
• Exposure to multidisciplinary engineering and environmental teams;
• Opportunities to collaborate with specialists across PUNCH and COWI; and
• A defined development pathway towards an Ecologist/ Environmental consultant role.
• Active Sports and social and annual summer outing

Got more questions?

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to us at vacancies@punchconsulting.com

Equal opportunity employer.
COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ethnicity, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.