Nature Advisory Pty Ltd is an employee-owned specialist consulting ecological company, providing expert advice, field services, and reporting to organisations, governments and private clients ecosystem monitoring and management projects. We specialise in renewable energy development ecological assessments and seek to ensure environmental impacts from these projects are minimised. This allows us to make a positive contribution to conserving environmental values while supporting the growth of the renewable energy sector. As an environmental firm, it’s also important to us that the impact of our own operations are considered and we are carbon neutral.

We are the leading provider of bird and bat ecological services to the wind energy industry and primarily work throughout Australia’s eastern states. We specialise in pre-construction ecological impact assessments, identifying relevant issues, implementing appropriate monitoring, and creating workable alternatives to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts on bird and bats. We design and deliver field services, prepare technical reports and assist clients through the regulatory process. We also have expertise in post-construction monitoring, implementing routine surveys, responding to impacts on threatened species and undertaking targeted surveys.

With our increasing workload in bird and bat ecological services to the New South Wales wind energy industry, we are seeking a qualified and experienced candidate to play a role in leading our growing NSW team. The ideal candidate will be joining our team of 5 ecologists and ornithologists in NSW and have a proven track record in ecological assessments, with an emphasis on delivering professional, accurate and robust reporting.

The successful experienced candidate will support the team through guiding new and ongoing projects. This will involve facilitating, guiding and directing bird and bat field studies to assess sites being considered for renewable energy projects. You will support the team by guiding general bird and bat assessments and targeted assessment on key species to provide inputs into the development of layout and other measures to mitigate the impact of these developments on birds together with our specialist team.  For this position, extensive field work may not be necessary. However, for those applicants interested in both intensive and extensive field surveys this may be also possible.

The role will include:

• Guiding the development of ornithological surveys throughout NSW;
• Directing general bird utilisation studies, targeted bird studies and bat studies;
• Guiding specialist assessments on bird species of interest to ensure impacts of wind energy facilities are minimised;
• Completing bird assessment, habitat mapping and bird and bat risk assessment reporting;
• Providing expert inputs into ornithological assessments and reporting.

Key position criteria:

• Tertiary qualifications in zoology or ecology;
• Experience undertaking avifauna surveys;
• Ability to lead field teams and remote fieldwork experience;
• Excellent bird detection and identification skills, particularly throughout central and northern NSW;
• Highly experienced and competent in the use of 4WDs;
• Ability to undertake intensive field work;
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in an ecological consulting role;
• Strong ecological data and interpretation experience;
• High quality reporting skills; and
• Ability to work well independently, as well as within a team.

Benefits include:

• Attractive salary commensurate with skills and experience;
• Five weeks annual leave each year;
• Flexible working conditions; and
• Mentoring by experienced staff and options for career progression.

Our wind farm team has over 20 ornithologists, and we work throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Join our national team comes together each June to review best practice and new technologies in wind farm assessments and minimising impacts of renewable energy projects.   The position provides an excellent opportunity to join a diverse and friendly team of zoologists and ecologists committed to a high standard of technical work and client service. There will be opportunities to work inter-state.