Job Title: Ecology Adviser
Starting Salary:£34,434 progressing to £37,280 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37
Location: Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Growth & Environment
Level: 9
About The Team
If you are a passionate ecologist and care about saving the environment, then we need you! This is a really exciting opportunity to progress your career in ecology within a unique team at a pivotal moment with Biodiversity Net Gain, Local Nature Recovery Strategy, Sustainability, Climate Change and Placemaking at the heart of the growth agenda in Local Government.
The role will help to ensure that the natural environment lies at the heart of these core objectives as you respond to planning applications on individual developments, contribute to strategic long‑term plans for the county, and help shape the long‑term future for the natural environment in Hertfordshire.
The role is a highly sought‑after position, which comes with a high level of respect, influence and responsibility. Your remit will be to provide dedicated, expert ecology advice, focused exclusively on the needs of the natural environment. You will have the opportunity to ensure applications and developers comply with your advice through practical on‑site visits.
Your work will help us:
* Enhance buildings and infrastructure in planning, making new developments more nature‑friendly and improving existing buildings and surfaces.
* Help halt and reverse fragmentation of habitat in the built environment in order to better connect urban areas to rural areas.
* Enhance urban habitats through utilising nature‑based solutions to provide wider environmental benefits.
You will also be a part of a truly uniquely dedicated cross‑sector team (LEADS – Landscape, Ecology, Archaeology and Design Sustainability) of environment specialists, giving you the opportunity to learn new skills, observe shared problems and find common solutions.
About The Role
The main purpose of the role is to:
* Provide high quality information and advice to the County Council and Hertfordshire Local Planning Authorities and developers as part of a family of ecologists.
* Ensure that the natural environment is a key consideration when applications for planning permissions are considered.
* Ensure site surveys and appropriate protection, enhancement, mitigation and biodiversity net gain are properly undertaken, to your satisfaction.
* Recommend approval of schemes when they meet recommended criteria and objections when they do not.
* Contribute to strategic plans, local plans and masterplans looking at ecology on a broader landscape view.
* Undertake site visits to ensure compliance.
Our objective is to halt and reverse fragmentation of habitat in the built environment in order to better connect urban areas to rural areas.
You will have a good working understanding of current biodiversity and ecology legislation and initiatives and will be committed to ensuring that the benefits and importance of the natural environment form part of Hertfordshire’s planning and placemaking.
About You – Essential Qualifications
* Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in ecology, environmental science, or a related natural science discipline.
* Relevant professional experience within local government ecology, ecological consultancy, or a comparable applied ecological role.
* Good understanding of the planning system, including the role of ecological advice in development management.
* Working knowledge of UK protected species legislation, with the ability to apply this to influence decision making by providing appropriate ecological advice.
* Demonstrable experience of biodiversity net gain (BNG), including the ability to review and interpret the statutory metric and understand how BNG is secured and delivered through the planning process.
* Experience of advising on ecological mitigation, compensation, and enhancement measures, including securing outcomes through planning conditions.
Driving Required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Additional Information
Disability Confident: We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding: This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Contact
To hear more about this opportunity please contact simon.richards@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
J-18808-Ljbffr