Ecologist

Ecologist

Salary: £31,537 to £33,699 per annum
Contract: Permanent – Full Time
Location: County Hall, Norwich

The Environment Service has an exciting opportunity for an Ecologist to join our Ecology Team. Working with the Environment Service Specialist Advice group and reporting to our Lead Ecologist, this role will support the delivery of a wide range of strategic and infrastructure projects ensuring that the natural environment of Norfolk is safeguarded and enhanced through the planning system.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about biodiversity and would be suitable for early career ecologists or those wishing to gain practical experience of the planning system. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that the biodiversity potential of sites is preserved and enhanced providing a cost-effective, professional, in-house ecological advice service to ensure Norfolk County Council meets its obligations with regards to ecology and green infrastructure. The role will lead on biodiversity issues, providing advice to Development Management and Planning Policy Officers across a wide range of projects.

We are looking for a motivated individual who can effectively manage peaks in workload to provide timely input into planning decisions. You will ideally have a basic understanding of the English planning system, wildlife legislation and experience of undertaking ecological assessments and producing associated ecological reports. An ability to evaluate habitats to UK Habitats Classification level would be of benefit.

Key responsibilities will include:

• writing or interpreting ecological reports for Town and Country Planning matters
• determining the appropriateness of ecological reports submitted with a planning application and if further information is required from the applicant
• decide if NCC projects require protected species surveys, and where appropriate, undertake them in accordance with legislation and national guidance
• identify and design appropriate ecological mitigation and compensation measures for NCC schemes including providing ecological advice on small and medium highways schemes to support Highways Officers
• supporting project delivery within the wider Environment Service e.g. delivery of Trails infrastructure, tree planting, site management

You will ideally be a member of CIEEM (associate or higher) or able to apply for this.

Previous experience of this type of role will be of benefit, but we are willing to consider candidates with suitable transferrable skills.

We are looking for someone with good communication skills at all levels, who will fit in well with our friendly team.

Closing date: 19 March 2026.