Assistant BNG Ecologist

Reports To: Head of Ecology and Biodiversity
Salary: £25,000
Terms: 12-month contract with potential to be made permanent
Location: Home-based with UK travel. Head Office / hybrid if North West based

Purpose of the role

The Land Trust owns and manages over 2,800 hectares of land across England and actively acquires new sites every year. With the introduction of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and appointment as a Responsible Body (RB), the Land Trust (LT) is in an exciting period of development, with aspirations to play a leading role with BNG across England.

To assist with an increasing pipeline of projects, LT are now seeking to appoint an Assistant BNG Ecologist who will work closely with the Head of Ecology and Biodiversity to deliver our BNG Business Plan on existing and future sites. This is a national role that will play a part in:

• Habitat surveying, assessment and monitoring.
• Acquisition of on-site and off-site BNG delivery.
• Detailed project design related to habitat restoration.
• LT’s role as a Responsible Body.
• Consultancy related to BNG on future LT sites/projects.

This post will involve close working with LT colleagues, consultants, contractors, Local Planning Authorities, client partners, and external stakeholders across England.

Essential skills

• Qualifying member of CIEEM (onwards subscription cost to be covered by LT).
• Educated to degree or Masters level in Ecological related subject.
• Proven botanical experience.
• Habitat report writing.
• Population and interpretation of the Defra Metric (all versions including statutory).
• Design of onsite and offsite BNG schemes.
• Writing of Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans.
• IT literate with proven skills in using MS Office and GIS packages.
• Ability and confidence to work on own initiative, as well as part of a team, and to resolve problems as they arise, remaining calm under pressure.

Salary and benefits

• £25,000 pa
• A salary sacrifice pension scheme, with LT matching employee contributions up to 6%
• Life Insurance (4 x salary)
• 36 hour working week with Flexi time
• 26.5 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays (pro rata). Rising to 31.5 days with service
• Option to purchase additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Care Cash back scheme
• Training and Development support
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policies
• Business travel costs will be reimbursed
• Annual performance incentive plan

Closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 29th August.
Interviews will take place via MS Teams on Monday 8th September.
Potential second ‘in person’ practical interview on Thursday 11th September.

If you would like any other information or wish to talk through the role in more detail, please email [email protected]

Candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK.

LT is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

The Land Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who has contact with its services and colleagues.