Ecology Officer | Castlewood, Clevedon

Overview

Job Reference: PECO0328

Starting salary: Level 7: £31,099 per annum

Location: Based in Castlewood, Clevedon

Contract: Permanent – Full Time

About the role

It’s a great time to join North Somerset Council as one of our Ecologists.

North Somerset has a landscape of huge nature conservation value, with a significant number of designated sites including: 4 Special Areas of Conservation, 56 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 2 National Nature Reserves, 13 Local Nature Reserves, the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and 204 Local Wildlife Sites.

Our vision is to be a greener Council and to demonstrate this we have declared an ecological emergency, started to improve biodiversity in our parks and open spaces, and published our first green infrastructure strategy. There are lots of exciting areas to be involved in and to have a positive impact on how we manage ecology across North Somerset.

You will be joining a newly restructured Natural Environment team helping to deliver actions from our new ambitious green infrastructure strategy. You will have a wide variety of opportunities including leading on advice for the emerging Local Plan including developing supplementary planning guidance, helping introduce and deliver biodiversity net gain, collaboration on nature recovery networks, wetland restoration, nature parks, engaging with colleagues across the West of England and being part of a wide-ranging project to better understand and protect our greater horseshoe bats.

Our passionate Natural Environment Team delivers green infrastructure across North Somerset through services such as parks and open spaces, rights of way, trees, flooding, ecology, and landscape.

A local authority post also has the benefits of a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, agile and flexible working conditions including hybrid working, an Employee Assistance Programme for staff health and wellbeing and access to schemes such as salary sacrifice. We also offer a relocation package.

About you

We are seeking an ecologist who is looking to develop their experience in a local authority context and to further develop their skills and knowledge to influence how we improve North Somerset’s ecology.

You will also need to demonstrate an understanding of ecological planning issues and you will have your own caseload. Your work will include prioritising responses to planning applications, including assessment of Biodiversity Net Gain Plans, compiling reports, and providing planning advice and advising colleagues on the Council’s major projects.

You will have experience in a similar role, preferably within a local authority, or hold a relevant qualification to level 4 or above.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

This position is currently based at our Castlewood offices in Clevedon.

Please be advised that this office will be closed by 2025. Consultation is currently underway to determine the new location for colleagues based in Castlewood; This will be at Weston-super-Mare or within North Somerset.

Want to know more and apply?

For an informal discussion, please contact Esther Coffin-Smith, Natural Environment Manager on 07385 039453.

Closing date: 4 October 2023.

Anticipated interview date: Wednesday 11 October 2023

North Somerset Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of our community regardless of age, disability, sex, race, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. North Somerset Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Somerset Council – Open, Fairer, Greener.