Senior Ecologist - Conservation Planner

Job purpose

The post will involve working as part of a small team, typically working on strategic planning policy and assessments for local authorities, as well as assessment work and guidance for statutory agencies, charities and community groups.

Our work is varied and the kind of projects the post holder might be involved with are:

• A Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) for a local plan, potentially involving a range of European sites
• Writing a mitigation strategy for a European site (e.g. addressing recreation impacts from multiple local authority plans)
• Helping an NGO understand and respond to major planning applications or casework

Main responsibilities

Project delivery

Work on a varied portfolio encompassing (as appropriate to skills): HRA work, mitigation strategies, helping local authorities with planning policy wording, support/attendance at hearings and public inquiry, casework including reviews of information provided by developers, evidence gathering to support policy and advice from statutory agencies. This will involve:

• Reviewing and summarising information from a range of sources
• Leading/attending meetings and workshops, including delivering presentations
• Report writing and analysis
• Peer and technical review of others’ work at Footprint Ecology

Business development and strategy

• Lead within team on planning matters and briefing other staff as relevant
• Working with the practice manager to tender and quote for work
• Developing proposals for work with new or existing clients including using your own network
• Building client relationships, including local authorities, NGOs, statutory agencies and universities
• Developing your skills and sharing knowledge and experience within the team
• Representing the company at events, conferences and meetings
• Liaising with potential clients and exploring new work areas
• Input into our employee-owned company, including participation in employee council meetings and potential to sit on the Trust Board.

Qualifications and experience

We are seeking candidates who have previously worked with or for NGOs, local authorities, statutory agencies or those from academic backgrounds. The successful candidate will need to be familiar with the conservation sector, be highly professional with good people skills and a proven ability in project management.

The essential qualifications, skills and experience are:

• Knowledge of relevant law, policy and guidance relating to planning and the built and natural environment
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of UK designated sites network and its protection
• Broad understanding of nature conservation in the UK
• Detailed understanding of the Habitats Regulations
• Experience of local plans, planning and natural environment matters
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to run meetings effectively
• BSc or equivalent in a relevant subject
• At least 3 years’ employment in relevant sector (NGO, statutory agency, local authority, academic or consultancy)
• Project management skills, including the ability to take responsibility, plan workloads, organise others, prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Excellent writing skills with demonstrable authorship of a range of reports, publications etc.
• Ability to provide intellectual leadership and creativity in problem solving
• Excellent IT skills including use of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and Teams
• Confident, resilient and able to defend views as well as actively listen to and respect others
• Self-motivated and flexible, with the drive, willingness and ability to work within tight deadlines
• A team worker with a collaborative, positive approach showing understanding, friendliness, tact, empathy and courtesy to others
• Commitment to environmental issues and nature conservation

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience are:

• Facilitation skills
• Experience of hearings or public inquiry
• Line management experience
• Understanding of biodiversity net gain
• Experience of managing access and recreation use
• Basic GIS