AgRecruit are partnering with Biofarm in London, UK to appoint a Head of Ecology. Please contact Sam Clayton at AgRecruit directly for enquiries (sam.clayton@agrecruit-ltd.com).
BNG for those who need it, long term value for those who provide it.
Join a dynamic company at the forefront of the BNG movement; where your ideas matter, your growth is championed, and your work drives meaningful impact for nature. Thisis more than a job; it's a unique opportunity to define your career while shaping the future of our planet.
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of Ecology to join our entrepreneurial, London based team and to help service a growing workload. The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing habitat banks and managing and overseeing the ecology team, with a particular focus on Biodiversity Net Gain. This position requires a minimum of 10 years’ field experience and an understanding of biodiversity net gain legislation, the Statutory Metric, policies, and best practices, as well as the proven ability to lead a team and liaise with government bodies such as DEFRA, Natural England, and Local Planning Authorities.
Key Responsibilities:
* Leading the Ecology team ensuring key deadlines and milestones are met in a timely manner.
* Reporting on progress to the senior team and Board.
* Drafting and presenting detailed reportsincluding Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans, Biodiversity Gain Plans, presentations, and proposals to clients, regulatory bodies, and community groups as required.
* Leading the team of in-house ecologists to develop and implement Biodiversity Net Gain strategies and action plans in accordance with relevant legislation, metrics, policies, and guidelines.
* Providing a high level of technical expertise and support including oversight and mentoring of habitat surveys and protected species assessments for BNG plans.
* Liaising with government bodies, including DEFRA and Natural England, to ensure compliance with biodiversity regulations and secure necessary permits or approvals.
* Leading the company’s ecological expansion into alternative Natural Capital markets.
Qualifications and Experience:
* Member of CIEEM.
* Circa 10 or more years' of field experience in Ecology and leadership roles.
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Ecology, or a related field.
* Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to diverse audiences effectively.
* Strong botanical knowledge with the ability to do standardised and replicable quadrat and transect surveys.
* Knowledge of biodiversity legislation, policies, and guidelines, including relevant national and local planning policies.
* Demonstrable experience of undertaking preliminary ecological appraisals(i.e. Phase 1 habitat surveys and protected species assessments).
* Experience in preparing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) plans.
* Strong understanding of ecological principles and methodologies, including habitat assessment and ecological impact assessment.
* Ability to meet tight deadlines and operate under pressure to ensure that key milestones are achieved.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a progressive, pragmatic approach and experience to assess the impact of BNG within a planning context.
* Proficiency in relevant software and tools used in planning and biodiversity assessment, such as the Statutory Metric, GIS, ecological modelling software, and Microsoft Office Suite.