Job Opportunity: Senior Ecologist
Location: Arrowtown (Otago), with potential travel and work across sites in Otago, Southland, Canterbury, and wider New Zealand
Type: Full‑time, Permanent

About Us

e3Scientific Ltd is a proudly New Zealand owned environmental science consultancy, operating since 2007 (formerly Davis Consulting Group) with offices in Arrowtown, Christchurch, Invercargill, and Hamilton (https://e3scientific.co.nz/). We deliver technically excellent, innovative, and practical solutions across ecology, water and environmental management, contaminated land, and landfill gas. Our clients span regional and local government, NGOs, and private sector industries such as agriculture, development, tourism, and resource management.

The Role

As a Senior Ecologist at e3s, you’ll lead and manage a diverse spectrum of ecological projects across a range of terrestrial environments. You’ll take charge of delivering both impact assessments and restoration plans, stepping up as a technical lead, mentor, and key client liaison.

Responsibilities include:

• Plan and undertake ecological fieldwork in accordance with industry best practice. Fieldwork will include plant, bird, lizard, bat, and wetland surveys.
• Preparation of clear and technically robust reports (EcIAs, Restorations Plans etc), including development of mitigation, offsetting, and compensation packages, in accordance with relevant New Zealand legislation and guidelines (e.g. RMA, NES/NPS documents, Regional and District Plans, EIANZ Guidelines).
• Senior and technical review of memos and reports.
• Managing, and advising on, large ecological restoration and rehabilitation projects, including on site audits and annual reporting.
• Project management of multiple projects, including health and safety, data management, client liaison, and ensuring deliverables are meet on time and on budget.
• Mentoring Ecologists and contributing to business development and tender preparation.
• Ensuring compliance with NZ environmental legislation, policy frameworks (e.g. NPS‑Freshwater Management), and applying the latest best practice.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Tertiary qualification (MSc or PhD) in Ecology, Zoology, Environmental Science, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7+ years of ecological consulting experience in New Zealand.
• Demonstrated expertise in terrestrial and wetland flora and fauna surveys and restoration.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing clear, accurate, and technically robust EcIAs, including development of mitigation, offsetting and compensation packages.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing Ecological Restoration/Management Plans.
• Experience in desktop assessments and research, as well as use of GIS.
• Strong writing, data analysis, and project management skills.
• Understanding and experience with the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity, the National Policy Statement for Freshwater, EIANZ EcIA guidelines, and Regional and District Council Plans.
• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours, as well as work both independently and within a team.
• Full NZ driver’s licence; mobility across regions.

Highly Desirable:

• Qualifications and experience in lizard and bat survey and monitoring.
• General or Specialist CEnvP.

Why e3Scientific?

National footprint: Work across Otago, Southland, Waikato, Canterbury, and beyond.

Credibility & impact: Science driven restoration projects and impact assessments.

Collaborative culture: Join a tight-knit team of passionate scientists where diverse disciplines and local knowledge thrive.

How to Apply

If you’re excited about this opportunity, please send your CV and a cover letter to office@e3scientific.co.nz at your earliest convenience. Informal enquiries are warmly welcomed.