What's involved with this role: Job Title: Planning Ecologist Reference: East Devon 5283765 Salary: £25.00 per hour PAYE with accrued holiday and pension contribution Hours: 37 hours per week Monday-Friday Role length: 5 months opening assignment Job type: Hybrid Location: East Devon Contract Type: Temporary The role: You will provide specialist ecological advice to support the Council’s planning and ecology functions. This includes assessing planning applications, reviewing ecological submissions and ensuring proposals meet national legislation, local policy and best practice. You will work closely with the Ecology Team, Planning Officers and developers to secure robust ecological outcomes, including Biodiversity Net Gain and compliance with the Habitat Regulations. Key Responsibilities: Review ecological reports submitted with planning applications, including PEAs, EcIAs, protected species surveys and Environmental Statements. Advise on mitigation, enhancement and scheme design, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation and planning policy. Assess Biodiversity Net Gain submissions, Statutory Biodiversity Metrics, HMMPs and Biodiversity Gain Plans, and guide officers on BNG requirements. Support Appropriate Assessments under the Habitat Regulations and review shadow HRAs. Offer pre-application ecological advice to influence high-quality, biodiversity-positive proposals Work with related teams such as Trees, Landscape, Conservation and Planning, helping integrate ecology into wider casework. Provide a professional, customer-focused service across the Council. What the client is looking for: Degree in a relevant subject or equivalent experience. Professional membership of CIEEM or eligibility to obtain it. Strong technical experience across ecological assessment and protected species. Solid understanding of environmental legislation including the Environment Act and Habitat Regulations. Practical experience of applying Biodiversity Net Gain within the planning process. Confident communicator, able to write clear reports and manage a varied caseload. Able to work independently and meet planning deadlines. Desirable: Experience with HRAs involving bat-related habitat sites or nutrient-affected catchments. Experience covering more than one of the core ecological planning duties. Special Requirements: Full driving licence and access to a vehicle (reasonable adjustments considered). Right to work in the UK. Qualification checks, references and a Basic DBS will be required. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. How to Apply: Submit your CV and cover letter If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us. We will also add your details to our mail out lists. Please note you may receive details of roles outside of your immediate vicinity, as many candidates are able to relocate temporarily for work. Please disregard any such emails that are not of interest and let us know if you would rather not receive such mailouts and/or if you wish us to delete your details and prefer to apply direct to our advertised roles. If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us. MT Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.