Local Wildlife Sites Surveyor

Do you have excellent skills in botanical surveying? Are you keen to speak to landowners about ways to improve their land management practices for wildlife benefit? Are you able to present your thoughts and ideas clearly in writing? If so, the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre (BMERC), a part of Buckinghamshire Councils Climate Change and Environment Department, has an opportunity for a Local Wildlife Sites Surveyor.

About us

BMERC is a busy, professional, and friendly team of six environmental specialists. Between us we flexibly cover the broad range of roles such as project working, data management and dissemination, site surveys, volunteer and landowner liaison and training, national and local partnership working and promotion. Together we share a passion to protect, promote and manage the unique natural environment of Buckinghamshire.

We sit alongside the Ecology, Arboriculture and Urban Design & Landscape Teams, overseen by the Natural Environment Manager. Buckinghamshire is currently experiencing a huge amount of growth so we are busier than ever.

Working with us will give you the chance to make a significant and lasting positive impact for the wildlife and people of Buckinghamshire, helping us to deliver our conservation objectives across the county. Come and join our fantastic team while developing your professional career at the same time.

About the role

As Ecological Surveyor within BMERC you will be responsible for liaising with landowners across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, providing conservation management advice, undertaking botanical and habitat surveys, and producing subsequent reports to be peer reviewed by the Local Sites Selection Panel, with a view to designating all suitable areas as Local Wildlife Sites (LWS). As part of our small flexible team you will get support from us all and will join us in promoting the benefits of LWSs and good quality conservation management in a wider forum.

The successful applicant will be self-motivated and confident to work alone in the field, with a degree / HND (or equivalent) in ecology or a related field, or at least five years’ relevant experience especially with botanical field survey. A full driving license and use of own vehicle is essential.

Please see the attached job summary for further details about our role.

Key Accountabilities

• Carry out specialist species and habitat surveys and recording on sites, in line with national and local guidance and methodologies relating to Local Wildlife Site (LWS) selection.
• Produce written reports for each site in standard formats; present and discuss these with the LWS Selection Panel.
• Provide management advice and support to landowners/land managers.
• Work as part of the wider BMERC and Environment Teams to support overarching projects and initiatives.

About you

• Experience of habitat and species surveying, particularly in relation to Local Wildlife Sites national criteria and NVC standards especially in lowland areas.
• Confident in negotiating and liaising with landowners and managers who may have limited/no prior knowledge of Wildlife Sites.
• Ability to collate and work from a variety of media i.e. paper maps, GIS information, air photos, etc to isolate key facts and target works in the field.
• Ability to produce consistent site reports and demonstrate high quality data collection.
• Confident to work alone in the field in both rural and urban locations. Able to adapt to given conditions at a site and always to work safely.
• Broad appreciation of environmental concerns and initiatives, and an enthusiasm for seeing your work as part of a larger picture both locally and nationally.

Other information

The post is based at Buckinghamshire Council’s Walton Street Offices in Aylesbury, once Covid restrictions lift later this summer. The successful candidate will be expected to work throughout the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Buckinghamshire Council has flexible working arrangements, and some working from home will be part of the role.

This is a Two-year fixed term contract.

Closing date Midnight 17th June, interview W/C 25th June.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application early as possible.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate work with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire. We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs, delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

APPLICATIONS HERE