Overview

We are looking to appoint an ecologist at senior level.  You will work within a team comprising a range of specialists including landscape, tree, conservation and planning professionals, as well as a further two ecologists.

Bath and North East Somerset is a large and diverse area containing not only the internationally renowned City of Bath World Heritage Site, but also an extensive area of Green Belt, two AONBs, beautiful countryside and settlements.  There is a rich and diverse natural environment with statutory designated sites – Special Protection Area – Chew Valley Lake, Special Areas of Conservation (Bath & Bradford on Avon Bats SAC and North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC), Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserves; also, non-statutory Sites of Nature Conservation Interest and Regionally Important Geological Sites.  Bath & North East Somerset is home to a vast array of interesting and rare species and habitats.

You will be providing specialist advice to planning case officers on a day to day basis to ensure that ecological matters are taken fully into consideration in the planning process.  You will also be needed to input to the development of planning policy in respect of ecology including delivering Biodiversity Net Gain.

You will be expected to demonstrate a high level of experience as an ecologist working within a planning environment and giving effective ecology advice.  You will have a high degree of autonomy, independently managing your own workload.  One day you might be looking at proposals in Bath city centre close to the river corridor, the next, plans to extend an agricultural business; another day, new housing which might impact a valuable designated area.

The right person will help us meet the challenges of exciting levels of growth, at the same time as looking after our unique natural environment.  The opportunity work in the World Heritage City of Bath and at the same time our wide rural area makes this a unique opportunity and a hugely attractive place to work.  We are also a high performing and ambitious planning service which has been recognised through the RTPI Planning Excellence awards.

We are a happy and positive team who all work well together and support one another.  If you are forward thinking, ambitious, and keen to make a real difference in a world class environment and would like to join our team, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Your main place of work will be the award-winning, modern Civic Centre in Keynsham, halfway between Bath and Bristol, easily accessible via car or public transport, with a train station 5 minutes’ walk away.

Interested to find out more?

If you are interested in this post and require more details after reading the job description or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Paula Freeland on 01225 477083 or email paula_freeland@bathnes.gov.uk.

To apply – Please use the online application facility by clicking the link above.