Location: Buckinghamshire, County Wide
Overview
Are you passionate about botany and ecology? Do you have specialist skills in species identification and surveying? Are you driven to make a difference to protect the natural environment?
An exceptional opportunity has become available for an enthusiastic ecological surveyor to join the team at the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre. The role will utilise specialist botanical and ecological skills to drive the identification and designation of new Local Wildlife Sites, to benefit the natural environment.
The successful candidate will use developed communication skills to liaise with landowners around access to survey and to provide conservation management advice. Species identification skills and habitat knowledge will be utilised to create survey reports with information about species and habitats. IT and GIS skills will be used to create new digital maps.
If you are excited by this position and feel like you could play a key role in the team, then we would love to hear from you!
About us
BMERC is a friendly and professional team, aligned closely with the Council’s Ecology Team. We hold wildlife records of flora and fauna in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes plus information about local sites such as Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites, Milton Keynes Wildlife Corridors and Road Verge Nature Reserves. We also hold data on NERC Act S41 Habitats of Principal Importance and other important conservation areas such as Biodiversity Opportunity Areas.
The team collects, processes and provides data and we manage an environmental database with currently over 3.6 million records. We also deliver and support projects, train and work with volunteers, advise landowners, and work with stakeholders and counterparts locally and nationally. BMERC is one of 5 environmental specialist teams that sit within the Planning and Environment service. Together we share a passion to protect, promote and manage the unique local natural environment.
Working with us will give you the chance to make a significant and lasting positive impact for the wildlife and people of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, helping us to deliver our conservation objectives across the county.
About the role
In this role you will undertake ecological surveys with a particular emphasis on botanical and habitat characteristics. You will be reporting on the quality and condition of sites and recommending designation to the Local Wildlife Sites Selection Panel. You will also provide conservation management advice to landowners and stakeholders across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.
Working with the rest of the team you will provide training, advice and support to colleagues and volunteers alike, promoting the benefits of Local Wildlife Sites and good quality conservation management in a wider forum. You will use the latest GIS technology to capture environmental information and support environmental records data processing to keep the BMERC environmental database up-to-date.
There will also be opportunities to both get involved in wider BMERC team projects and activities, for example relating to nature recovery and supporting biological recorders, and for training and development, such as progression through the Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) levels.
The role is currently based at Council Offices in Aylesbury. Hybrid working is available, and you can be based away from the offices up to 3 days per week. During survey season, this will often be field based visits. The successful candidate will need to work across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, and a full driving license and use of own vehicle is essential.
About you
The successful applicant will be enthusiastic, self-motivated and confident to work alone in the field as well as in the office. You will have a degree / HND (or equivalent) in ecology or a related field, or at least five years’ relevant experience including botanical field surveying. You will also enjoy species identification, the use of specialised taxonomic keys and liaising with experts, including county recorders and species specialists.
We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, passionate and ambitious about their role in respect to wildlife conservation and biological recording. You will also be committed to working collaboratively with colleagues, stakeholders and the public to secure the best outcomes. You will have up to date ICT skills and an interest in utilising the latest GIS technologies.
You will have a full driving licence to enable you to effectively undertake survey work across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and will be able to prioritise and organise your work to ensure deadlines are met.