Senior Marine Environmental Consultant – Marine Mammals
Location: SAMS Enterprise, Oban
Contract Type: Fixed Term – 24 months, in the first instance
Working Pattern: Full Time – 37 hrs per week
Closing date: 15th June 2026
The Role
This role is to provide environmental consultancy leadership within the SAMS Enterprise delivery team, specifically within the Marine Energy core strategic area. Responsibilities have three main areas of focus: 1) Lead technical development of products and services for commercial work in Marine Mammals consultancy, advising and working with SAMS Enterprise Senior Management Team and Strategic Working Groups to improve, resource and deliver to market needs; 2) Technical delivery: implementation of state-of-the-art acoustic automated processing, database management and data visualisation, and 3) income generation,working with the business development team to develop and realise new opportunities in this sector.
This is a key high level technical position to develop and deliver high quality consultancy services to industry and regulators, ensuring projects are delivered effectively to time, cost and quality as per the agreed contractual requirements and to the ISO9001 standard.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a highly motivated consultant with an enthusiasm for the study and conservation of the marine environment. Demonstratable experience (e.g PhD or Masters preferable, consultancy experience essential) related to marine mammals, bioacoustics and/or species distribution/statistical modelling is essential. You should be experienced in the development and delivery of commercial contracts, be able to work collaboratively as part of a small team and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including regulators, industry and colleagues.
You will have a strong background in the collection and analysis of long-term passive acoustic (using static, drifting and/or towed hydrophones) data. In addition, skills in species distribution and habitat modelling, as well as proficiency in standard programming languages are sought (e.g., R, Python or MATLAB). Experience of visual data analysis (photo-ID, focal follow, line-transect surveys) would be valuable. Awareness of UK and Scottish marine environmental regulatory processes in relation to MPAs as well as marine industry (e.g., fisheries, marine energy and aquaculture) monitoring and management is required.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £38,249.00-£51,039.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Canteen
- Casual dress
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Education:
Licence/Certification:
- Right to Work in the UK (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
