Principal Ecologist - Your Next Chapter Starts Here!At Eco Logical Australia (ELA), A Tetra Tech Company, we're more than just an environmental consultancy. We're a multi-disciplinary community of over 200 approachable experts who lead with science to inform critical environmental decisions and deliver positive solutions.Our \"Find Your People\" philosophy means you'll be surrounded by smart, grounded, and genuinely supportive teammates who love what they do. Our clients trust and rely on us for solutions; together, we work on some of the most complex and meaningful biodiversity projects in NSW and beyond.What You'll Be DoingEstablished in 2010, our Mudgee office has built a strong reputation for quality, with an established client base and range of long-term, new and prospective projects. With the continued success and growth of our team, we are looking for a motivated and experienced Principal Ecologist to join our team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead projects, mentor early career consultants, and contribute to the strategic direction of the office and wider ELA ecology discipline.As a Principal Ecologist, you will serve as a technical expert, offering guidance and mentorship to early career staff. Your knowledge of threatened species and ecological communities in the region will allow you to lead high-quality assessments and contribute to innovative environmental management solutions. You will be responsible for developing methodologies and protocols, planning and leading field surveys, and ensuring technical excellence in project delivery.What You'll BringThis role will allow you to combine your passion for ecology, environmental management, legislative knowledge, and leadership skills to create high-quality work and great outcomes for our clients and the environment.To be successful, you will have:Tertiary qualifications in Ecology, Zoology, Botany or Environmental Science, or a related disciplineMinimum 10 years' ecological experience (preferably in NSW)Expertise in flora and/or fauna species identification, with strong knowledge of threatened species and ecological communitiesStrong working knowledge of New South Wales and Commonwealth environmental legislationExperience working under the NSW BAM, with a preference for BAM Accreditation or ability to obtainDemonstrated experience in project and budget managementPrevious consulting and business development experience (desirable)Experience planning, coordinating, and leading large-scale field surveysExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports and assessmentsStrong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience supporting and developing early career ecologistsA current driver's licence.About the locationThe town of Mudgee, in Central West NSW, is a hive of cultural activity located only 270 km from Sydney. With beautiful heritage streetscapes surrounded by amazing national parks, Mudgee offers an exceptional lifestyle choice for those looking to escape the rat race. From museums and galleries to internationally renowned wineries and restaurants; from festivals to national sporting competition games, Mudgee is a welcoming country town with all the perks of a big city. Our office is in a heritage listed building on the main street of Mudgee; your office views include heritage buildings, spring blossoms and autumn leaves (with great coffee options).Apply nowTo apply, please forward your application (including a cover letter addressing the above criteria) to our People and Culture team, via email For further information about the position, please contact Kalya Abbey, Operations Manager – Applications close: Tuesday, 7 April 2026Come and see if our people are your people.