Assistant Ecologist

at  South Gloucestershire Council

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We are determined that South Gloucestershire will be a great place to live and work. Our Planning Service comprises of three main elements: Development Management, Major Sites and Strategic Planning Policy and Specialist Advice, who work strongly together to deliver a one-service joined-up approach for our customers.
Following the introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain, working within our Strategic Planning Policy and Specialist Advice team, you will make a difference providing advice to support the council’s development management and plan making statutory responsibilities in relation ecology and biodiversity matter.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

• We require you to be educated at NVQ 3 level or working towards a degree level or have experience in environmental sciences/ ecology
• It is key that you have an understanding and knowledge of application of BNG and the use of DEFRA’s BNG metric and role that this plays in supporting sustainable development and the commitment to nature recovery.
• You will be able to collate information from a variety of sources and present findings
• You must be IT literate, with effective numeracy skills as you will be updating information systems and databases.
  You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so must have a full valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle.or have alternative appropriate means of travel.

• Under the supervision of the Senior Ecologist, you will support biodiveristy net gain (BNG) implementation by using the Council’s GIS Map info system.
• You will be providing ecology advice to development management case officers to support the timely and effective determination of planning applications. This will include site visits as required and liaison with other planning officers.
• Using your skills and experience you will contribute to the development and maintenance of databases and monitoring systems relating to the recoding and monitoring of biodiversity and the natural environment.
• You will support the development of policy, strategy and guidance formulation through your specialist knowledge in ecology and biodiversity.
• It will be your responsibility to provide and present information and advice, including answering requests for information from other departments, outside organisations, and the public, and to attend appropriate working groups.
  There will be opportunities for continuing professional development in accordance with CIEEM CPD requirements.