The Role
This is an ‘outward facing’ trainee role interacting directly with a variety of schemestakeholders. TTOs use GIS to analyse impacts of development or infrastructure works on greatcrested newts, following defined processes and protocols. Attention to detail and a meticulousapproach to assessments, document writing and data recording, as well as the ability tomultitask and work within strict deadlines, are paramount for this post. Given the clientfacing nature of the role, TTOs are expected to learn and apply excellent customer serviceskills and presentation skills.
Posts are available in the District Licensing (DL) team, focusing on development throughplanning, as well as in the Organisational Licensing (OL) team, focusing on infrastructureworks across road, rail etc.
The Trainee Technical Officer grade allows for new starters to learn the role and the skillsrequired of the Technical Team and includes around three months of active training, ongoingmentor-guidance, and subsequent on-the-job learning, with day-to-day support available for allaspects of the work from established Officers, Senior Officers and the Team Manager.
Progression
Trainee roles are expected to step up to Officer grade 6 months after passing probation,typically at the 1-year mark. This accounts for an average of 3-months training and time tobuild a catalogue of assessment types, growing in complexity and difficulty over time.
Key responsibilities:
* Fully engage in training and learn case procedures, data management requirements, effectiveclient liaison and scheme background and industry context.
* Deliver casework within the NatureSpace Technical team, providing accurate quotes,assessments, reports, and certificates to clients in line with the deadlines, standards, andcritical requirements of the scheme. All work will be conducted and delivered to the highstandards expected of NatureSpace staff.
* Liaise in a professional, confident, and knowledgeable manner with developers andinfrastructure providers (prospective and current clients), their contractors, ecologists,environmental and planning consultants, District Licensing Officers, local planning authorityecologists and planners, the Newt Conservation Partnership and NatureSpace colleagues.
* Provide excellent customer service on the phone, via client meetings (primarily videoconference) and in email correspondence.
* Complete casework administration to agreed standards and processes, including dailymaintenance of up-to-date live casework tracking and recording systems and the CRM.
* Report to the Senior Technical Officers and the Technical Team Manager and develop closeworking relationships with other members of the Technical and Operations Team to ensureassessments are accurate, informed, communicated effectively and consistent with the planningsystem and licensing framework.
* Be responsible for managing their own workload and working independently, as part of thenational team. High levels of personal flexibility and responsibility are given, but equallyhigh standards of self-management are required.
* Deliver reasonable requests to contribute to the wider company, including but not limitedto other workstream team cover, website and social media contributions, working groups, keycross-company improvement projects and event organisation.
Essential skills, knowledge, and experience:
* A relevant degree (e.g., in ecology, wildlife conservation, environmental management,geography).
* Understanding of ecological impact assessment and biodiversity in planning.
* An enthusiasm for ecology and wildlife conservation in the UK - conservation is at theheart of what we do.
* Organised, methodical and conscientious – able to juggle and prioritise multiple cases,enquiries and tasks, and work efficiently to meet tight deadlines.
* A detail-focused analyst, able to deliver critical analysis of projects using knowledge ofgreat crested newt ecology and impact assessment.
* An excellent communicator with good inter-personal skills – able to liaise proactively andconfidently with all stakeholders.
* Highly literate, able to prepare documents quickly and diligently to a high standard,following defined processes, protocols, and guidance.
* Understanding of protected species legislation and licensing in England.
* Excellent I.T. skills and high competence in GIS, preferably ArcGIS or QGIS.
* Self-motivated and independent – able to work flexibly with minimal supervision.
* Willing and able to travel to occasional team events as required.
Desirable skills, knowledge, and experience:
* First-hand field experience with great crested newts – surveying, mitigation methods etc.
* Knowledge and experience of the planning system.
* Knowledge and experience of the infrastructure industry e.g. roads, railways, utilities(please highlight in your cover letter if so).
* Understanding of data entry and data management.
Company background
Great crested newts have declined dramatically in the UK over the last 50 years and althoughstill widespread across lowland England they are no longer common. Despite protection under UKand European wildlife law, numbers are still declining, and habitat loss is their biggestthreat.
In 2018, the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme was launched – set up in partnership withnational freshwater and amphibian Non-Governmental Organisations as well as seven localplanning authorities across the South Midlands. Since then, the scheme has expanded nationallyand now covers over 60 local planning authorities across Bedfordshire, Berkshire,Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire,Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
The scheme allows planning authorities to authorise (under strictly defined terms) activitieswhich affect great crested newts at the same time as they grant planning permission. TheDistrict Licensing Scheme has significant advantages for newt conservation and widerbiodiversity benefits through a fully funded region-wide conservation strategy that createshigh-quality habitat at a landscape scale and delivers long-term management and monitoring fornewts, which is delivered via our partners at the Newt Conservation Partnership. The schemebenefits developers because the licensing process for great crested newts is simplified andstreamlined.
NatureSpace also works with national infrastructure providers, such as Network Rail, to helpthem secure and deliver 'Organisational Licences' for protected species with the sameconservation deliverables. The schemes are administered by NatureSpace, are regulated, andapproved by Natural England and are supported by the country’s leading amphibian and freshwaterNGOs – the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and Freshwater Habitats Trust.
Company culture, employment benefits and location
NatureSpacePartnership is a small (c.60 staff) but busy and rapidly growing company. Being asmall organisation, everyone has a say in what we do and how we do it. Our agility and sizemean that your voice will be heard and you will have the opportunity to directly see theresults of your work.
Work/life balance is important to us. We actively support a flexible working arrangement sothat our work fits in with our lives and we are open to exploring how this role could best workfor you. The nature of the 4-day working week means we work intensely during work hours aheadof a longer weekend break.
The successful candidate/s will be joining afriendly, close-working team of home-workers andwill have responsibility for managing their workload and working independently as part of adispersed national team. The post requires high levels of motivation and high standards ofself-management. Location is entirely flexible within the UK - this post will be mainlydesk-based but some travelling to meetings in England may be required.
NatureSpace embraces equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion and we welcome applicationsfrom all suitable qualified and experienced individuals. To build a team of the most talentedemployees, NatureSpace is committed to being a flexible employer and we place considerableemphasis on wellbeing and job satisfaction.
We offer a significant benefits package for all staff including flexible working, a 4-dayworking week plus occasional mandatory Friday meetings, time off-in-lieu (TOIL) or overtime pay(in agreement with your line manager), 20 annual leave days (which equates to 5-weeks off peryear in light of the 4-day working week, plus bank holidays, weekday birthdays and additionalholiday over the Christmas period), an annual performance bonus of up to 20% of your pay,company pension contributions, company private health and life insurance, plus the option tojoin our electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 14th September 2025Please note we may close applications early if we receive a high volume of interest, soearly applications are encouraged.
Interview dates: You will be notified by Monday 22nd September 2025 if youhave been selected for interview; with interviews being held virtually (via Microsoft Teams) onTuesday 30th September & Wednesday October 1st 2025.
Expected start date: As soon as possible.
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