Senior Ecologist/Biodiversity Net Gain Specialist

This is a great opportunity to join a business who really values their employees and offers excellent workplace benefits. Not only will you be joining a business who values employee development (with their 3 directors who all joined the business at Junior positions) but who have been at the forefront of the development of BNG for the last decade. Due to this they are looking to make appointments to strengthen this position.

Roles And Responsibilities

• Protected species surveys (Senior Staff are expected to complete no more than a single nights survey per week);
• Undertaking habitat surveying fieldwork, including monitoring;
• Preparation of Preliminary Ecological Appraisals and Protected Species Reports;
• Preparation of Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA);
• Preparation of management plans and documents required to secure projects;
• Project Management and Client Liaison;
• Liaison with various stakeholders including developers, local authorities, landowners, environmental NGO’s;
• Engagement with developers, landowners, land managers and local delivery partners in relation to biodiversity net gain;
• Engagement with LPA’s to develop arrangements to deliver the policy at a local level;
• Land management advice and habitat restoration;
• Overseeing habitat creation projects; and
• Biodiversity net gain assessments, including use of biodiversity metrics and design and delivery of net gain solutions;

Skills And Experience Required

• Good knowledge of best practice survey techniques, relevant wildlife legislation and protected species licencing;
• A competent understanding of ecology and wildlife protection in the context of the UK planning system;
• Knowledge of BNG principles and processes and experience in the use of the 3.0 metric and condition assessments;
• Specialist knowledge in a particular field of ecology and a class licence for one or more protected species
• Degree level or equivalent academic qualification in Ecology or related field;
• Membership of Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), eligibility for membership or other similar is desirable;
• A level of competency in Microsoft Office Software and preferably (although not essential) some knowledge of GIS Package;
• Project management experience;
• Experience in delivering training and support to junior colleagues;
• Excellent Communication Skills; and
• A full, clean UK driving license and access to a vehicle.
• Demonstrable experience in complex report writing, inclusive but not limited to Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) reports, Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA), Shadow/Informative Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) documents, Protect Species Reports and Habitat Management Plans (desirable);
• A level 2 bat licence (desirable);
• Demonstrable experience in managing junior staff (deairable);

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 27 days holiday and a holiday purchase system
• Opportunity for annual bonuses
• BUPA health
• Wellbeing cashback scheme
• Pension