Natural Environment Officer, Ecology | Clevedon

• Job reference: PNEV0070
• Starting salary: £28,672 p.a
• Based in Castlewood, Clevedon
• 37 hours per week (permanent)

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 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.

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, 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. You should have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and be computer literate. The council supports agile and flexible working.

While COVID restrictions are in place the role will be mainly working from home. For an informal discussion, please contact Esther Coffin-Smith, Natural Environment Manager on 07385 039 453.

Want to know more and apply? Visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/jobs-training/council-jobs to download an application pack and apply online.

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.

Closing date: Friday 11 March 2022.

Anticipated interview date: Thursday 17 March 2022.