Ecology Intern

The evidence behind the restoration
Full time
Scotland
This is your chance to gather the evidence that shapes the future of some of Scotland’s most remarkable landscapes. Everything we restore, we restore on the strength of what the data tells us, and you will be the person out there supporting its collection.
As our Ecology Intern, you’ll support work across our Scottish estates, helping with field surveys, recording habitat condition, and turning that raw field data into the evidence base shaping how we restore these landscapes. Working closely with specialist consultants, and our environment and estate teams, you’ll see first-hand how this evidence feeds into management plans, funding applications and the natural capital products those landscapes generate.
We have so much exciting work ahead that we would love you to start with us in early 2027, right at the beginning of the survey season.
Closing date: 02/11/2026
Apply now
About You
Environment
A love for the natural world and rural environment, and a commitment to its ecological restoration.
Strong knowledge of UK habitats and species legislation, particularly upland and peatland systems. This could be gained through an ecology, environmental science or related background, academic, practical, or a mix of both.
Familiar with, or quick to learn, standard survey methods and condition assessment.
Impact
Disciplined with data, because great records are what make great decisions about how we restore these landscapes.
Able to turn field notes into clear findings and communicate them well, so your colleagues can act on what you have seen.
A love for survey work and for spending hours out on the estates, immersed in the species and habitats you are recording.
Adventure
Excited by the opportunity to spend long days out on Scottish hill ground, in every kind of weather Scotland has to offer.
Committed to staying safe and well in remote terrain, and physically ready for the days the work asks for.
A driving licence is essential given the location of our estates.
Together
Able to collaborate seamlessly across a range of stakeholders, including estate teams, contractors, regulators and external ecologists.
Generous with what you discover, sharing your findings with the estate teams so everyone learns from the ground up.
And let’s be honest, you have to be really kind too. Sharing snacks on long journeys or a packed lunch in the driving rain is mandatory!
We believe in recruiting exceptional people and creating opportunities that allow you to do incredible things. You don’t need to tick every box above, and you don’t need to look or sound a certain way to belong here. We are committed to building a genuinely diverse team drawn from across the country, with a wide range of lived and learnt experiences. It doesn’t matter what point in your career you are at, what school you went to, or whether you have a degree or not. We want amazing people with a desire to make a difference.
What We’d Love You To Do
Ecological Survey
Plan and deliver habitat and species surveys across our Scottish estates, to consistent and defensible standards.
Habitat Monitoring
Record habitat condition and change over time, building the baseline against which restoration is measured.
Data Management
Turn field records into clean, structured datasets that others can use with confidence.
Evidence and Reporting
Translate survey and monitoring data into the evidence that informs management plans, funding applications and natural capital products.
Conservation Delivery
Support practical restoration work on the ground alongside the estate teams.
Working with Specialists
Coordinate with external stakeholders and partners working on our Scottish landscapes.
Your resource pack
Your Working Environment
Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.
Best Teammates
We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.
Do What You Love
If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.
Tools to perform
We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.
Your Working Environment
Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.
Best Teammates
We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.
Do What You Love
If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.
Tools to perform
We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.
Your Working Environment
Most of our roles, unless site specific allow you the freedom to work from anywhere in the country, should you need help with this we too will be there to support.
Best Teammates
We always want to ensure every member of the team has the right support needed. We are a tight knit team, always sharing, meeting and working together. Although we work remotely from one another the culture we have shaped allows you to never feel alone.
Do What You Love
If you bring a passion for conservation and a care for the environment, we’ll support you to create your dream role.
Tools to perform
We will ensure you are provided with the equipment you need to be incredible in your role.
1Apply
This is the first step to becoming part of the team. Simply click the ‘Apply Now’ button to complete our application form, and show us how awesome you are!
CV’s are needed, but on their own we don’t feel they tell us enough about who you really are. So, we have listed just a couple of questions to allow us to learn more about you.
2Opportunity to Shine
If your application is successful a member (or two) of the team will have an introductory call with you, to answer any initial questions you may have. After which, if successful, we will set an exciting role specific challenge for you to complete in advance of your interview. An opportunity for us to see you shine.
3Interview
We hate for this part to be too corporate and regimented. Instead, we will have a relaxed conversation to get to know one another, an opportunity to ask questions and learn more.
We recognise that this process is two way and that you will be interviewing us perhaps even more than we will be interviewing you – we promise that it won’t be a dull process.
4Decision
If our passion for what we do aligns with yours and we think you’ll be a great addition, we will invite you to join our growing team. If you love what you’ve learnt we hope you will accept, to be a part of our mission to Scale Conservation.
Back to recruitment
Your Resource Pack

Work arrangement
Yes