Role Purpose To manager the councils Ecology Policy and Planning team in line with Council policies. To ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory obligations on planning applications, with regard to nature conservation and Biodiversity Net Gain To decide on, formulate and implement the Borough’s approach to ecology and biodiversity policies and the Local Plan To provide expert ecological and biodiversity advice to councillors and officers Responsibilities Taking a proactive role in formulating and implementing the Council’s work in ecology and biodiversity, through partnership with officers from other departments, national statutory and non-statutory bodies, elected members and the local community. To ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory obligations with regard to planning applications and policy with regard to nature conservation. To manage the Ecology Policy and Planning team in line with relevant Council policies. To lead on ecology in the Council’s commitment to the climate emergency and in accordance with the Wandsworth Environment and Sustainability Strategy To advise and represent the Council on all matters relating to ecology and biodiversity meeting the provisions of all relevant legislation and to keep up-to-date with developments and trends in the nature conservation industry and undertake research to support continuous improvement To manage and monitor revenue and capital budgets related to the Ecology Policy and Planning team To actively search for external funding from relevant sources to supplement service delivery within the Parks Service in the delivery of ecological aims and objectives Manage the recruitment of all staff related to the Ecology Policy and Planning team and oversee their effective induction To provide ecological and biodiversity advice and expertise in relation to management plans and corporate projects To represent the Ecology Policy and Planning team by attending committees, panels and other public meetings, and present reports, as and when necessaryRequirements Knowledge of ecological principles such as the “mitigation hierarchy” and familiarly with BS42020 Knowledge of the planning system in relation to protected places, priority habitats and protected and priority species. Knowledge of the Environment Act and Biodiversity Net Gain principles Strong background in reporting and analysing data Relevant ecological qualifications Proven significant experience of work in an ecological / biodiversity managerial setting Experience of nature conservation management and relevant policy and legislation