Location
Edinburgh, East Lothian, United Kingdom
Capabilities
Environmental
Office Setup
Hybrid
Job ID
#42854
Industry
Environmental
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
➡️ Join our passionate environmental team and make a real difference to protecting and understanding our environment across the UK.
➡️ As an environmental surveyor, you will play a vital role in collecting data that informs sustainable development, environmental policy and conservation efforts.
We offer:
Competitive hourly rate
️ Accrued holiday at a rate of 1.2 hours per 10 hours worked
About the opportunity:
We are seeking Seasonal Environmental Surveyors to support our experienced team on a variety of projects.
We are looking for individuals with environmental fieldwork experience with good availability between September 2026 and March 2027.
In particular, you will have the opportunity to work on the largest field survey ever undertaken in the UK, undertaking soil sampling and assessment surveys – collecting a range of soil samples, conducting in situ assessments and recording digital data.
You will receive comprehensive training and gain excellent experience in a range of field survey and soil sampling techniques.
Your broader project exposure will depend on your knowledge, experience and interests, but could include surveys and reporting for other soil science, ecological, water and environmental workstreams.
Primary responsibilities:
Supporting our national team of soil/environmental scientists and ecologists working on a variety of projects
Survey support and logistic planning
Soil sampling and other environmental surveys as required
Producing quality-assured deliverables
Report writing
Our Water and Environment business provides a focus for advising our clients on sustainability issues including environmental policy, renewable energy, low carbon economies, impacts of climate change and waste and resource management.
️ Locations: Edinburgh & Glasgow
Field-based role: Expect some physically demanding outdoor work over winter and overnight stays (all travel and accommodation expenses covered and budget for subsistence provided)
Contract type: Zero-hour contract
What does a zero-hour contract mean for you?
Key benefits
Flexibility & control: Choose when you work, ideal for balancing jobs with education, family, or other commitments.
Statutory rights: You’re entitled to core rights like National Minimum/Living Wage, paid holiday, rest breaks, payslips, and protection from discrimination.
Opportunity & experience: Great for building skills, gaining experience, and potentially moving into permanent roles.
Short notice protections: Recent changes protect workers from unfair deductions if shifts are cancelled last minute.
Important considerations
Income and hours are variable, so earnings aren’t guaranteed.
You’re usually classed as a ‘worker’, meaning some rights differ from full employees, but key protections remain.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a keen environmentalist, or an experienced consultant, we’d love to hear from you.
Here's what you'll need
✅ Enthusiasm for a career in environmental science or ecology
✅ A minimum of a college-level qualification in an environmental discipline (or equivalent)
✅ Organised and dependable with good time management skills
✅ Driven and motivated individual with a proactive mindset
✅ Happy to work away from home and stay away for up to 4 nights a week
✅ Driving licence (please specify on your CV)
✅ Right to work in the UK
Desirable
- ️ Degree in environmental science, geography, ecology or related subject
- ️ Previous experience in environmental/ecological surveys
We are seeking candidates with immediate availability. Interviews will be arranged at the earliest opportunity, with an anticipated start date in August.
You’ll need flexibility for fieldwork and a proactive mindset to thrive in this exciting role.
@Jacobs. A world where you can. Good luck with your application
#LI-EG1 #LI-HYBRID
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs .
We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here .
Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support .
