Planning Ecologist

Herefordshire Council is looking to appoint a Planning Ecologist to join our Natural Environment function within the Economy & Environment Directorate. This is a key professional role providing ecological advice across the planning system and wider council activity. You will play an important part in protecting and enhancing Herefordshire's biodiversity, supporting sustainable development, and helping to deliver the council's ambitions around nature recovery networks and biodiversity net gain. What will you be doing? As a Planning Ecologist, you will provide robust, proportionate ecological advice to internal colleagues and external stakeholders, primarily as consultee to planning applications, ranging from major development to small householder applications. Your work will include:

• Reviewing planning applications, including interpretation of wildlife and habitats legislation.
• The undertaking of Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
• Reviewing biodiversity net gain (BNG) proposals and biodiversity gain conditions.
• Assessing development proposal compliance with Nutrient Neutrality.
• Negotiating with applicants, agents, and consultees, working closely with Development Management Case Officers to agree appropriate mitigation and planning conditions.
• Providing ecological input to council nature policy development.
• Undertaking site visits and ecological surveys, including monitoring BNG sites.
• Supporting enforcement team relating to potential breaches of legislation/conditions.
• Representing the council at meetings, forums and public events, promoting biodiversity.
You will work collaboratively with colleagues across Planning, Sustainability and Climate Change, Highways, Parks and Legal Services, as well as with external partners including Natural England, the Environment Agency and local wildlife organisations.,
• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.
We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

You will have:
• A degree (or equivalent) in ecology, nature conservation or a closely related discipline
• Membership of, or active progression towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as CIEEM
• Knowledge of wildlife legislation, ecological best practice and how these apply within the planning system
• Experience of providing technical ecological advice, including Habitats Regulations Assessment and biodiversity net gain
• Knowledge of ecological field survey techniques
• The ability to interpret technical reports, legislation and policy and present clear, balanced advice to a range of audiences
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• A full driving licence and the ability to travel throughout the county and undertake site visits, including over rough terrain
  
  Herefordshire is big hearted, welcoming and friendly. We have strong and independent communities and idyllic countryside, situated in the Southwest Midlands and bordering Wales. The county sits between Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills to the east, and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) in Wales to the west.
Historically Herefordshire has been the gateway to the Marches. We embrace partnership working. We are a member of the Marches Forward Partnership, which is a cross-border collaboration between Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys and Shropshire who are collectively working to secure funding to invest in the region. The council priorities over the next four years are set out in the Council Plan, with four main areas. People: We will enable residents to realise their potential, to be healthy and to be part of great communities who support each other. We want all children to have the best start in life. Place: We will protect and enhance our environment and ensure that Herefordshire is a great place to live. We will support the right housing in the right place, we will support access to green spaces, and we will do everything we can to recover the health of our rivers. Growth: We will create the conditions to deliver sustainable growth across the county; attracting inward investment, building business confidence, creating jobs, enabling housing development along with providing the right infrastructure. Transformation: We will be an efficient council that embraces best practice, delivers innovation through technology and demonstrates value for money.

You will also share our commitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults with care and support needs. We Offer Attractive holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:
• Salary range of £32,061 - £36,363
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Clear opportunities for professional learning and career development
• 31 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Flexible working options, including agile working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 access to support
• Contribution towards professional membership fees (where role-related)
• A wide range of savings and discounts through our employee benefits scheme