Senior Planning Ecologist

Leicestershire has an ambitious growth agenda, aiming to deliver thousands of new homes, major new infrastructure and employment across the area. This carries massive potential for gains in biodiversity value and improving people’s access to natural places. A key priority for the County Council is to ensure that this growth is delivered sustainably, and that the opportunities to improve our local environment for biodiversity and for access to wildlife are fully realised. 

The Ecology team provides advice on biodiversity matters to the County’s Minerals and Waste planning service, to 7 District planning authorities across the County, and to Rutland County Council’s planning service. Following a restructure, we are looking for an experienced Senior Planning Ecologist to implement and develop the advisory service.   

Senior Planning Ecologist
Working Hours: Full Time, Permanent, Hours per week – 37 
Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA 
Reference: CE0282
Closing date: 18 May 2020 at midnight
Salary Range: £27,936 to £31,377 (pay award pending) 

You will have a good understanding of the planning system and how it can impact on biodiversity, and a thorough knowledge of ecological survey methods.  You will have experience of assessing the impacts of development on wildlife, and how to mitigate or compensate for impacts. A priority is to work with partners to develop the county council’s biodiversity net-gain and offsetting strategy and you will have a good understanding of planning policy, legislation and good practice regarding net-gain and other biodiversity matters. 

You will engage with and influence senior professionals across the planning and environmental sector and will have the confidence and skills to handle complex cases, work on your own initiative and negotiate the best possible outcomes for biodiversity. 

 Essential Requirements: 

• Relevant qualification to degree level 
• Knowledge of national biodiversity policy and legislation 

• Knowledge of ecological survey and mitigation techniques 
• Understanding of the planning system related to biodiversity 
• Experience of working with or within public sector 
• Presenting professional work 
• Ability to manage varied caseload and work to deadlines 

• Negotiating and influencing skills 

For informal enquires please contact Sue Timms, Tel: 0116 305 4108 Email: sue.timms@leics.gov.uk  

To apply and for an application form please visit: https://jobs.emss.org.uk/pages/job_search_view.aspx?preview=preview&jobId=12375