Patch Planning & Advisory is seeking an emerging professional Ecologist to join our brand-new team and support the delivery of ecological assessments across some of NSW’s most interesting and complex development and planning projects.

In this role, you will benefit from an extremely supportive workplace culture and the opportunity to work alongside senior and highly experienced staff to hone your skills, including our Director of Ecology and Principal Ecologist. For an enthusiastic ecologist with 2-5 years of experience, we are confident this move will accelerate your career in a way that few other organisations can match.

You should bring:

• A degree in ecology, environmental science, conservation biology or a related field;
• Knowledge of NSW ecological communities, flora and fauna identification, and ecological survey methods;
• An understanding of the Biodiversity Conservation Act, BAM, and ecological assessment requirements (or a willingness to learn);
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to translate ecological findings into planning relevant advice;
• Competence with standard Microsoft Office applications; GIS experience is beneficial.
• A collaborative mindset and willingness to contribute to a multidisciplinary team.

What you’ll be doing:

You’ll work alongside our Director of Ecology and Principal Ecologist (both BAM accredited) on our portfolio of ecology projects across NSW. Your tasks may include:

• Conducting field surveys for vegetation, habitat condition, flora, and fauna;
• Undertaking desktop research, ecological database searches, and background investigations;
• Preparing ecological reports (or sections of them) including constraints analysis, impact assessments, management plans, or monitoring reports;
• Assisting with biodiversity impact assessments and contributing to BAM-aligned analyses (such as data entry or vegetation mapping);
• Supporting project teams through meetings, site visits, and multidisciplinary coordination;
• Preparing fee proposals, tender inputs, and general project documentation, with oversight from more senior staff;
• Maintaining accurate field records and contributing to quality assurance processes;
• Experience conducting fauna surveys, including setting and collecting equipment and field identification skills (utilising visual and aural observations), would be looked upon favourably. As well as experience in using GIS software packages for spatial data analysis and map production.

What you’ll get:

• Hands-on experience in a boutique consultancy working at the intersection of ecology and planning;
• Mentorship from highly experienced and industry-recognised ecologists, with exciting opportunities to grow ecological capability within the team;
• Exposure to a diverse range of projects that shape communities and landscapes across NSW;
• A supportive, people-focused workplace that values learning, collaboration and professional development.

About Patch:

Patch is a specialist planning and development advisory firm based in the Sydney CBD, working across Greater Sydney, the Hunter and regional NSW. We support clients in both the public and private sectors — from government authorities to high-profile developers — and we’re known for being people-first, values-led, and outcome-focused.

Founded in 2021, Patch has grown to a team of nearly 20 planning professionals across Sydney and Newcastle, with speciality skills covering planning, social impact, stakeholder engagement and ecology.

Patch works across all stages of the project lifecycle, from strategic planning, including development applications, State significant projects, rezonings, and due diligence for a wide range of land uses: residential, greenfield and rural subdivisions, offices, data centres, warehousing and logistics, and major infrastructure. We also provide independent review and audit services to both private and public sector clients.

As our most recent service addition in 2026, our ecology service is growing rapidly, creating an exciting opportunity to join an agile, fresh, and energetic team, supporting the growth of this key service from day one. We are now looking for an Ecologist to expand our capability and support our growing portfolio of projects.