Senior Ecologist

Are you an experienced ecologist seeking to develop your career in a senior role incorporating planning advice and nature recovery projects?

An exceptional opportunity to join West Oxfordshire District Council as a Senior Ecologist, you will be acting as a lead technical specialist on ecology, Biodiversity Net Gain and nature recovery for planning, estates and other council departments. This permanent role offers the flexibility of working within the offices at Witney and agile working, allowing you that extra freedom and work life balance.

Are you passionate about restoring nature in the local area? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Our planning and sustainability service is fundamental to the success of the council’s ambition for the future and we are passionate about safeguarding and recovering nature in the area. Our focus is to enable our communities in the West Oxfordshire area to thrive, by creating great places for people to live, work, learn and enjoy. We want our future generations to thrive too and we are serious in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. Now is a fantastic time to be joining us. We are looking to deliver upon our council priorities and shape our environment for the benefit of the local area and beyond.

About the role: We are looking for a passionate ecologist to join the planning policy team to ensure the Council is implementing its duties under the Environment Act 2021 in relation to Biodiversity Net Gain and nature recovery. You will be line managed by the Principal Ecologist and assist with overseeing the work of the two Assistant Ecologists and the Nature Recovery Officer.

The Senior Ecologist is a hybrid role combining nature recovery with planning ecology on a 50:50 basis. The work will be wide ranging and challenging, including providing high quality and robust ecological advice for planning applications, enforcement and appeals, and supporting the Principal Ecologist on the implementation and monitoring of Biodiversity Net Gain. In addition, you will be driving forward the council’s Nature Recovery Plan.

You will be liaising with a variety of different stakeholders, including planning officers, developers, planning agents, ecological consultants, environmental organisations and councillors to protect and enhance biodiversity and to deliver nature recovery in order to support the delivery of the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

You will need:

• A post-graduate degree qualification in a related subject and at least 5-years’ relevant work experience.
• Experience in providing ecological advice in either public or private sector within a planning context.
• Excellent knowledge and experience of statutory Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Excellent knowledge and experience of relevant legislation and policies, specifically how these apply to the planning process and management of the natural environment.
• Good awareness and understanding of Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

Special conditions:

• Ability to travel / access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Full UK Driving Licence
• You will be expected to work reasonable additional hours in line with the needs of the service.
• There may be a requirement to work at other locations to meet the needs of the business.
• This post designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament.

What we can do for you…

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people and children. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.