Principal Ecologist

It’s a great time to join North Somerset Council as our lead Ecologist. This role is a permanent position and has a pay range from £38,296-£43,516 depending on skills and experience.

About the role

North Somerset is an ecologically diverse and exciting area within a landscape of nature conservation value. The area is host to 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.

The role sits within the Natural Environment Team and primarily involves prioritising responses to planning applications, compiling reports and providing planning advice and advising colleagues on the Council’s major projects.

Our passionate and newly restructured team will be delivering actions from our ambitious Green Infrastructure Strategy across North Somerset, through services such as ecology and landscape, parks and open spaces, rights of way, trees, sustainable wetlands and flood management.

You will have a wide variety of opportunities including: leading on advice for the emerging Local Plan including developing supplementary planning guidance, helping to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain, collaboration on nature recovery networks and the developing Local Nature Recovery Strategy, exploring opportunities for wetland restoration, engaging with colleagues and partners across the West of England and being part of a wide-ranging project to better understand and protect our greater and lesser horseshoe bats and create strategic mitigation habitat.

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.

About you

We are seeking an experienced ecologist, with one or more European protected species licences, can evidence good knowledge of bat ecology, an understanding of UK wildlife legislation and CIEEM membership. You will need to demonstrate an understanding of ecology within the planning system and will lead a team to respond to consultations on planning applications, including completion of Habitat Regulation Assessments, delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain and the management of complex cases. You should have an excellent knowledge of the wildlife of the area and exemplary teamwork and communication skills, both written and verbal, including IT literacy. You will have experience in a similar role and hold a relevant qualification to level 6 or above or have equivalent experience to give an in-depth level of knowledge necessary to undertake the most complex work especially in Development Management.

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

Why North Somerset Council?

We understand working for a local authority is more than just a job. We want to ensure our employees remain passionate about what they do and enjoys their time at North Somerset. Whether that means you want training and development opportunities or a flexible working arrangement to fit around family commitments, we will work with you to ensure you are getting the best out of your employment.

Join us and you’ll receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working and flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, and a generous annual leave allowance with the option to purchase up to an additional 10 days per year. Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet.

Want to know more and apply?

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

Anticipated interview date: Thursday 18 July 2024.

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Closing date: 10 July 2024.

Please note: We are currently only accepting applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.