Chevening Estate Parkland Enhancement

Site Ecologist: Chevening Estate Parkland Enhancement

Location- Chevening- Sevenoaks

Salary- £22,000- £28,000 depending on experience.

Job Type- Permanent Full Time

For over 21 years, Rural Arisings has been committed to transforming under-utilized land into vibrant, sustainable green spaces. We specialise in remediating environmentally degraded sites and repurposing waste soils generated from construction projects to create natural habitats for wildlife and recreational areas for the community. Along with this, we provide land-based solutions for landowners in the agricultural and leisure sectors. We are a relatively small, but passionate team located across South-East England.

Our company is looking for a motivated individual to join our small on-site team where you will play a critical role in the progression of our newest project. The successful candidate will be involved with this project from the beginning, helping the team transform the land from arable fields to landscaped mounds with woodland and open parkland with a large onsite pond. This project is being created under a biodiversity net gain scheme with a positive gain of 47.11%. The ecologist will be based in Kent (Sevenoaks) and will have opportunities to visit and oversee work in our other sites in Thurrock and Surrey.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing and participating in the creation of wildlife fencing across the site.
• Great Crested Newt Trapping and Translocation.
• Reptile Trapping and Translocation
• Overseeing Engineering works and liaising with the engineering team to inform them of ecological boundaries and rules onsite.
• Pond Enhancement works
• Hedgerow relocation
• Habitat creation and enhancement.
• Management of consultants
• Preparing reports for planning purposes e.g. keeping records
• Overseeing Ecology on other sites in Surrey and Kent

Skills Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Ecology or related subject with 2+ years’ experience in the field of ecology.
• Experience in GCN surveying, ideally with an EPS Great Crested Newt licence.
• Experience with reptile identification and translocation
• Comfortable working outside in all weathers.
• Full, clean drivers licence
• Excellent communication skills.
• Understanding of protected species and wider ecological law.
• Flexibility for working Weekends as and when required for surveying and trapping.
• Adaptable and pragmatic approach to work
• Experience with Badger licensing and relocations is desirable.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Development and Growth opportunities, including attendance of relevant courses
• Friendly and Inclusive work environment
• Company Events.