Strategic Ecologist (BNG)

Your new company

A specialist ecology, land management and arboricultural consultancy based in the East Midlands, working in tandem with wildlife trusts across the East of the country.They are a wholly owned subsidiary of a wildlife trust, all profits are gift aided to the trust to support nature conservation. Over the last 30 years, they have gift-aided over £1m which has been used to fund habitat conservation work across nature reserves and other wildlife conservation activities and campaigns.This association ensures that they play a key role in the circular economy of delivering advice that meets the needs of developers, planners, utility companies, local authorities, government agencies, but also helps conservation by securing re-investment in other habitats that need protection.

Your new role

You will contribute to the delivery of the Biodiversity Plan through creating a Biodiversity Inventory of Network Rail Eastern Region. They will then use this information to produce Route Biodiversity Action Plans (RBAP) and Habitat Management Plans (HMP). These documents will detail how the organisation will manage their asset to increase biodiversity.
Responsibilities:

• Review existing records to identify key habitats and species on, or alongside infrastructure
• Work with the Technical Authority team and external stakeholders to create a Biodiversity Inventory - a baseline of ecological data from which KPIs can be set and monitored.
• Undertake Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping (BOM) and seek opportunities to link up 'biodiversity hotspots' through nature corridors and B-Lines
• Prioritise areas for action along each area to maximise the contribution of land holdings to Nature's Recovery
• Create Habitat Management Plans for the habitats within area of responsibility, determine the monitoring and assurance requirements and review and update the plan at the end of each control period
• Develop long-term management objectives that align to strategy, including biodiversity objectives
• Defining the management required for a given habitat type and, where necessary, identify changes required to existing habitats to enable transition to a preferred habitat
• Responsible for developing and managing the delivery of Route Biodiversity Action Plans and Habitat Management Plans
• Lead on the design and execution of fieldwork and protected species work
• Provide support and leadership to Operational Ecologists and colleagues
• Work with Maintenance Protection Coordinators to ensure all proposed plans are compatible with the safe operation of infrastructure
• Provide input into the assurance process for offset proposal
• Maintain records to support the compliance with Business Management System (ISO 9001 & 14001) including contribution to regular audits and annual compliance visits as required.
• Produce HMPs which provide a set of interventions for maximising biodiversity in the light of other constraints.
• Produce HMPs which prioritise the establishment of high value habitats for biodiversity
• Define habitats according to UKHab Classification using baseline information gathered by Operational Ecologists
• Produce detailed and clear RBAPs and HMPs to be used by internal stakeholders
• Set biodiversity objectives which are achievable and consider operational constraints
• Prioritise biodiversity interventions based on constraints and potential benefits
• Undertake monitoring and reporting on progress of habitats towards desired objectives

What you'll need to succeed

• BSc Environmental Science, Ecology or similar - MSc is desirable
• Extensive experience of ecological survey and assessment.
• Extensive experience of nature conservation advisory work and habitat evaluation using UKHab Classification
• Extensive experience of licence applications and complex mitigation design.
• Extensive experience of designing and delivering complex surveys and bespoke mitigation design.
• Experience with Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) calculations and improvement recommendations.
• One or more protected species survey licences including ideally a Level 2 bat licence.
• Demonstrable experience in wildlife mitigation, having previously acted as Named Ecologist on Natural England mitigation licences for bats, great crested newts or other European Protected Species.
• Licensed barn owl surveyor (CL29) would be desirable.
• Tree climber qualified to City & Guild NPTC Level 2 award in tree climbing & aerial rescue would be desirable

What you'll get in return

• £33,000 - £44,000 p/annum DOE
• Flexible working options and a healthy work-life balance encouraged
• Annual leave and pension plans
• Health payment plan
• Personalised Development programme
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Opportunity to work on high profile projects with nationally significant clients, and on smaller scale conservation-focused projects
• Overnight stays are infrequent.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
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