Principal Ecologist - Planning Policy Team

What's involved with this role: Interim Principal Ecologist - Planning Policy Team Fenland Hybrid working Key Requirements:

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification in an Ecology related subject, or previous relevant experience with equivalent transferable skills and experience.
• Understanding and application of Biodiversity Net Gain.
• At least 3 years post graduate experience with a local authority or conservation organisation.
• Significant experience of managing multiple projects
• External communications experience, representing organisations at public enquiry, judicial review.
• Knowledge and experience in biodiversity and green infrastructure planning, biodiversity net gain, ecosystem services and natural capital, especially in relation to land-use planning in the UK for infrastructure.

The purpose of the role is to manage and increase Biodiversity and Natural Capital in Fenland, providing key advice and support to the council and partners.Key Responsibilities:

• Reviewing internal processes regarding the requirements of Environment Act and making recommendations as to how the Council can improve/make more efficient the way it responds to them.
• Providing ecological advice at any stage as requested within the development management process (pre-application, screening, scoping, formal application and enforcement).
• Providing ecological advice at any stage as requested within the Development Consent Order process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects including the Fens Reservoir development
• Assessing, and advising on, ecological impacts and appropriateness of any proposed mitigation and biodiversity enhancement measures.
• Assessing, and advising on, biodiversity net gain statements, metric assessments and plans.
• Representing the service at, and input to, meetings with developers and applicants, planning committees, planning inquiries and appeal hearings.
• Supporting the development of local plans, and other strategic planning documents including documents being prepared by partner organisations such as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Cambridgeshire County Council and Natural Cambridgeshire.
• Supporting the preparation of biodiversity reports, as required by the Environment Act.

Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for.Clients are generally looking for candidates who are local to, or who can commute easily to the place of work. It will help your application if your CV states, in broad terms, where you reside - there is no need for a full address.Please feel free to apply to us direct via by quoting the job reference and exact job title.If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension, you will be working at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than umbrella pay terms. We do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.Due to the number of CVs being sent to us under current market conditions, unfortunately we cannot respond to all applications. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days, please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. We will, however, be very happy to receive future applications from you for other roles.Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please