Senior / Principal Ecologist – Product & Domain Specialist

Location: Remote (UK-based, with periodic in-person meetings in Bristol or Bath)

Working pattern: Part-time, flexible hours/days to be agreed

Remuneration: Competitive, pro-rata, dependent on experience

About Coreo

Coreo is on a mission to transform how the world collects, manages and uses spatial data.

We are building an intelligent, highly flexible data collection and management platform that removes the complexity traditionally associated with GIS. Our ambition is to make sophisticated technology accessible to everyone; helping professionals work more efficiently, make better decisions and deliver greater impact whilst removing the complexity.

We have established a strong position in the UK ecology and environmental sectors, where our platform is already helping thousands of professionals improve the way they work. From UKHab and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) surveys to protected species assessments and large-scale nature recovery projects, Coreo is changing how environmental data moves from the field to meaningful insight.

But we have much bigger ambitions. We are continually expanding the capabilities of our platform, exploring new technologies and identifying opportunities to support a much broader range of industries and applications.

Our vision is simple:

One intelligent platform. Limitless possibilities.

About the Role

We are looking for an exceptional Senior or Principal Ecologist to become a key part of the team shaping the future of Coreo.

This is a particularly important role within our business. As our principal ecological and environmental domain specialist, you will help ensure that our technology remains firmly grounded in the realities of professional practice, while challenging us to think differently about what digital tools can achieve.

You will sit at the intersection of ecology, environmental policy, technology and product innovation, working closely with our leadership, product, design and engineering teams.

Your primary responsibility will be to bring an authoritative understanding of ecological practice and the wider environmental sector into the development of our platform. You will help us understand not just what ecologists need today, but what they will need tomorrow – identifying opportunities to improve existing workflows, develop new capabilities and fundamentally rethink how professional environmental data is collected, managed and used.

You will be instrumental in translating complex ecological requirements, professional standards and real-world working practices into intuitive, reliable and scalable digital solutions.

We are particularly interested in someone who is naturally curious about technology, excited by the potential of AI and automation, and able to look beyond established ways of working. We don’t simply want someone who can tell us how things are currently done; we want someone who can help us imagine how they could be done better.

While UKHab, BNG and ecological consultancy will be central to the initial focus of the role, we are looking for someone with the breadth of knowledge and ambition to help shape a platform with applications far beyond these areas.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Strategy & Domain Leadership

• Act as Coreo’s principal ecological and environmental domain expert, providing authoritative guidance on professional practice, industry requirements and emerging opportunities.
• Work closely with the leadership and product teams to influence product strategy, development priorities and the longer-term evolution of the platform.
• Help translate complex ecological and environmental workflows into clear, practical product requirements that can be understood and implemented by software developers.
• Review proposed features, workflows and functionality, ensuring they are technically sound and professionally suitable.
• Help ensure Coreo’s product development remains focused on solving genuine customer problems and delivering measurable improvements in efficiency, accuracy and quality.

2. UKHab, BNG & Technical Ecological Expertise

• Provide expert technical guidance on the UKHab classification, habitat mapping, condition assessments and the metric.
• Ensure Coreo’s UKHab and BNG functionality reflects the latest statutory requirements, technical guidance and accepted professional practice.
• Advise on the application of UKHab and BNG within complex developments and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).
• Maintain an understanding of the wider planning, consenting and regulatory frameworks that influence ecological consultancy and environmental assessment.

3. Ecological Practice & Survey Innovation

• Maintain a broad understanding of ecological consultancy, including the practical requirements of different survey types, methodologies and reporting processes.
• Advise on the development of digital survey tools and workflows covering areas such as Preliminary Ecological Appraisals, protected species surveys, National Vegetation Classification (NVC), Ecological Clerk of Works (ECoW), Environmental Clerk of Works (EnvCoW).
• Identify opportunities to replace fragmented, manual or repetitive processes with more streamlined digital workflows.
• Help establish robust and consistent digital approaches to data collection, validation, analysis and reporting which ultimately support better decision making.
• Ensure that Coreo’s functionality reflects the realities of fieldwork, including the challenges of working across multiple sites, with different teams and in areas with limited connectivity.

4. Product Innovation, AI & Emerging Technology

• Actively explore how emerging technologies, particularly AI and automation, could transform ecological and environmental data collection and management.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks, improve data validation, streamline reporting and extract greater value from collected information.
• Work with the development team to explore innovative approaches to spatial data capture, interpretation, analysis and presentation.
• Help identify where intelligent functionality could assist professionals without compromising technical accuracy, transparency or professional judgement.
• Maintain awareness of developments in GIS, remote sensing, environmental intelligence and other technologies that could enhance the platform.

5. Policy, Regulation & Industry Horizon Scanning

• Monitor and interpret changes in environmental legislation, policy, technical standards and professional guidance across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
• Identify forthcoming regulatory changes and industry developments that could create new requirements or opportunities for Coreo.
• Assess the implications of emerging environmental policy within the areas of biodiversity recovery, nature restoration, infrastructure development and environmental reporting.
• Translate relevant developments into practical recommendations for product development and business strategy.

6. Customer Engagement & Industry Relationships

• Participate in selected customer discovery meetings, particularly with larger ecological consultancies, infrastructure clients and strategic partners.
• Engage with ecologists and other environmental professionals to understand their challenges, working practices and evolving requirements.
• Help test new features and functionality with practitioners, gathering meaningful feedback before and after release.
• Support the interpretation of customer feedback, translating technical and professional requirements into actionable product improvements.
• Develop relationships with relevant professional bodies, industry organisations and technical specialists where these could benefit Coreo.
• Help Coreo maintain a strong presence and reputation within the ecological and environmental sectors, including contributing to technical discussions, events and thought leadership.

7. Quality Assurance & Professional Integrity

• Provide specialist review and feedback on new ecological functionality before it is released to customers.
• Help establish appropriate technical validation processes and quality standards for ecological data, survey templates and reporting outputs.
• Identify potential technical, regulatory or professional risks associated with new functionality and recommend appropriate safeguards.
• Ensure that Coreo’s digital workflows support exceptional professional practice.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for someone who combines exceptional ecological knowledge with intellectual curiosity, commercial awareness and a genuine enthusiasm for technology.

You should be comfortable operating at both a detailed technical level and a strategic level: understanding the intricacies of ecological survey methodologies while also being able to step back, identify opportunities for innovation and articulate how technology could transform established ways of working.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience within UK ecological consultancy, typically at Senior Ecologist, Principal Ecologist or Associate level (or equivalent).
• Expert-level knowledge of UKHab classification, habitat mapping and statutory BNG methodologies.
• Practical experience of BNG assessments within complex developments, including NSIPs.
• Strong understanding of ecological survey methodologies, mitigation requirements and reporting standards across a broad range of survey types.
• Excellent knowledge of the environmental policy, legislative and regulatory landscape, particularly as it relates to ecological consultancy and biodiversity accounting.
• Strong working knowledge of GIS and spatial data, with an appreciation of the opportunities and challenges associated with digital field data collection.
• A genuine interest in technology and an ability to understand how software can improve professional workflows.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex technical requirements and turn them into practical solutions.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ecological concepts to software developers, product designers and non-specialist stakeholders.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a small, fast-moving technology team and contribute ideas, challenge assumptions and influence product direction.

Desirable Experience & Attributes

• Full or Associate membership of CIEEM, or an equivalent relevant professional body.
• Experience working on major infrastructure, renewable energy, transport or other large-scale development projects.
• Experience with National Vegetation Classification (NVC), protected species surveys, ECoW/EnvCoW or other specialist ecological disciplines.
• Experience using or implementing digital field data collection platforms, such as QGIS, ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with Coreo.
• Experience developing survey methodologies, technical standards, digital templates or standard operating procedures.
• An understanding of AI, machine learning, automation or emerging geospatial technologies, and an enthusiasm for exploring their practical applications.
• Experience engaging with clients, contributing to product development or helping organisations introduce new technology into established working practices.
• Knowledge of environmental policy and regulatory developments in Scotland, Wales, Ireland or other relevant jurisdictions.

The Person We Are Looking For

Technical expertise is essential, but we are equally interested in your approach, outlook and personality.

You are likely to be someone who:

• Thinks beyond convention: You are not satisfied with the way things have always been done and are constantly looking for better approaches.
• Is naturally curious: You enjoy understanding how things work, exploring new ideas and learning about emerging technologies.
• Thinks strategically: You can see the bigger picture, recognise emerging trends and understand how today’s decisions influence tomorrow’s opportunities.
• Is pragmatic: You understand the realities of ecological consultancy and can distinguish between theoretically attractive ideas and solutions that will genuinely work in practice.
• Communicates exceptionally well: You can bridge the gap between technical ecology and software development, helping different disciplines understand one another.
• Takes ownership: You are comfortable working independently, identifying what needs attention and taking the initiative to move things forward.
• Enjoys collaboration: You want to work with a close-knit, ambitious team and are happy to challenge ideas constructively. You know and work with other experts in ecology who can help to fill gaps in your knowledge and sense check ideas.
• Is excited by possibilities: You see technology as an opportunity to improve the environmental profession and are motivated by the potential to make a meaningful difference.

Importantly, we are not looking for someone who has already worked in software development. We are looking for an ecologist who understands the profession deeply, has a strong appetite for technology and can help us to continue to build something genuinely transformative.

What Success Looks Like

This role will evolve as Coreo grows, but initially we would expect the successful candidate to make a tangible contribution in the following areas:

• Product relevance: Coreo’s functionality continues to reflect the real-world needs of ecological professionals and anticipates emerging requirements.
• Technical integrity: Our UKHab/BNG solution and other ecological functionality continues to be the industry standard and remains accurate, and aligned with relevant standards and guidance.
• Product innovation: New opportunities to simplify workflows, improve data quality and introduce intelligent automation are regularly identified and progressed.
• Customer insight: We develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by our customers and translate this into meaningful product improvements.
• Industry awareness: Coreo is well positioned to respond to regulatory changes and emerging opportunities across the environmental sector.
• Competitive differentiation: We continue to develop a platform that stands out from its competitors due to its usability, intelligence, technical capability and ability to solve real problems.

What We Offer

A genuine opportunity to influence the future of environmental technology

This is not a conventional ecological consultancy position. You will be at the forefront of technology in the ecology space and will have a direct influence on the development of a growing technology platform. You will be in direct contact with many of the leading ecological consultancies in the UK and have the opportunity to help shape how professionals collect, manage and use environmental data.

A meaningful role in an ambitious business

Coreo is a growing SaaS business with an established customer base and significant ambitions. You will work closely with the leadership team and have a real opportunity to influence the direction of the business.

The opportunity to innovate

We actively encourage new ideas, constructive challenge and thinking beyond established approaches. You will have the opportunity to explore how emerging technologies, including AI, can improve the way environmental professionals work.

Flexibility

This is a remote-first, part-time position with flexible working arrangements. We are happy to discuss a pattern that accommodates other professional commitments, independent consultancy or fieldwork.

A collaborative environment

You will work alongside a small, progressive, ambitious team of technology professionals who are passionate about building excellent software and making a positive contribution to nature recovery and the environment.

Competitive remuneration

A competitive pro-rata package, dependent on experience and the agreed working commitment.