Environmental Officer

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Environment Team at the Water Management Alliance (WMA)- a group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) responsible for managing flood risk and land drainage across the region., As an Environmental Officer, you'll play a key role in ensuring that WMA's activities protect and enhance the natural environment, specifically focusing on the Upper Ouse Water Management Board in Bedfordshire. Working closely with Operational and Technical (Catchment) Services, you will work with the WMA's Environmental Manager to provide ecological advice to support the daily activities of the Boards such as watercourse maintenance and water level management activities. You will also lead on projects identified within the Board's Biodiversity Action Plan. The role focuses primarily on proactive engagement with the operations teams, both prior to and during delivery watercourse maintenance and small to medium-scale watercourse improvement projects, including:

• Culvert replacements
• Watercourse restorations
• Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes
You will ensure works and projects:
• Prevent environmental harm
• Minimise ecological disturbance
• Enhance biodiversity wherever possible
  
  You will typically have:
• At least two years' relevant experience in an ecological or environmental role
• Experience undertaking a range of ecological surveys and assessments, such as:
+ Habitat and species surveys + Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) + Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments + Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) Experience working with or alongside public authorities, infrastructure projects, or water management schemes would be advantageous.

Permanent | £30,000 - £35,000 + Car Allowance & Excellent Benefits,
• £30,000 - £35,000 (dependent on experience)
• Car allowance
• Local Government Pension Scheme