Principal Ecologist

Job reference: EATC0034
37 hours per week (full time permanent)
Based in the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1UJ
Valid driving licence and own transport (or alternative, suitable method of travel)

Our team is responsible for managing council owned trees and the rights of way network, responding to planning applications and delivering our Green Infrastructure Strategy.

You will manage a small ecology team with the work area comprising primarily of prioritising responses to planning applications (including BNG), compiling reports (including the completion of Habitat Regulation Assessments), providing planning advice and advising colleagues on the Council’s major projects. You will also support with the delivery of our Nature Park initiative and Biodiversity Net Gain on council-owned land. We actively support the ongoing professional development of our ecologists in accordance with CIEEM standards, including the development of experience required for species licencing.

Key responsibilities:

• Leading on advice for the emerging Local Plan including developing supplementary planning guidance, helping to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain, collaboration on nature recovery networks and the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, exploring opportunities for wetland restoration, engaging with colleagues and partners across the West of England and being part of a wide-ranging project to better understand and protect our greater and lesser horseshoe bats and create strategic mitigation habitat.
• Management of the Ecology Team and supporting the delivery of the Natural Environment Team Plan and Green Infrastructure Strategy, with particular emphasis on professional ecological advice to the Development Management Planning service through consultation responses and to applicants through an ecology pre-app service.
• Providing technical support for the most complex cases and be a role model for best practice.

Essential Criteria:

• professional vocational qualification or experience to at least level 6 or above, relevant to the Ecology and the Natural Environment field
• an understanding of ecological planning issues
• experience undertaking Habitat Regulations Assessments
• Phase 1 Extended Ecological surveys & UK Habitat Mapping and Classification.
• a good understanding of protected species, particularly bats
• a broad working knowledge of wildlife and the relevant legislation and policy in place to protect and enhance it.
• ability to manage/organise own work and that of colleagues to meet agreed deadlines
• Member of CIEEM (or eligible)

For more information email: [email protected] or call Esther Coffin-Smith, Natural Environment Manager on 07385 039 453.

Closing date: Wednesday 29 October 2025

Interview date: Monday 3 November 2025