Habitats Regulations and Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist

Career Grade D-H £27,254 to £51,356 per annum
Permanent or Secondment 37 hours per week

This is one of two exciting opportunities to join the environment team, within a busy multi-disciplinary coastal management team managing coastal flood and erosion risk on the south coast:

Coastal Partners provides a Coastal Risk Management Service to five local authorities that reduces the risks to people, the developed and natural environment, from flooding and coastal erosion. With several exciting large-scale civil engineering, environmental and research projects in our portfolio, we are seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our Environment team.

This role will join colleagues in providing technical support on Planning and Marine Licence Applications within highly sensitive and designated environments on a variety of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM), habitat creation and allied projects. We are looking for applicants who have a passion for the coastal environment and understand the careful balance between this and the need for FCERM. Applicants should have experience of managing or supporting the delivery of complex built environment or infrastructure projects in environmentally sensitive areas.

This role will involve supporting senior staff in the delivery of Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) / Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) at both a project and plan level. Other key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with the coordination of ecological mitigation measures in support of FCERM projects.
• Supporting the preparation of technical reports and assessments including EIAs.
• Working collaboratively with project teams to help deliver HRAs and other environmental assessments on time and to a high standard.

Key competencies and experience include:

• A good knowledge of HRA and EIA legislation, planning policies, licensing requirements, experience of best practice ecological surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• At least five years’ practical experience of supporting HRA at project and/or plan level, ideally in the FCERM sector.
• Ability to contribute to clear and accurate technical writing.
• Working towards or holding membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management or a similar environmental body.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; with experience of communicating confidently with regulators and stakeholders.
• Being organised with proven ability to multi-task and handle several projects simultaneously.
• Proactive and motivated with an ability to problem solve working both as a team and individually.
• Project management experience including use of project management tools would be advantageous.
• Technically competent with familiarity with standard software applications, experience with GIS, would be an advantage.

You will require a degree or post-graduate degree in an environmental / coastal management related discipline. This is a career graded post with the opportunity to progress through career grade. The initial salary is dependent on experience and qualifications.

We are a dynamic service with a fresh and optimistic approach to meeting challenges and opportunities and are committed to developing our people through training and support to offer a varied experience.

What we can offer you

A competitive salary/benefits and support for your continuous professional development.

• £27,254 to £51,356 per annum
• Generous Leave Allowance
• Free Parking
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible Working/Hybrid working
• Family Friendly Packages
• Role specific training for career development

Visit our website for the full range of benefits and support we offer our staff.

Closing date for receipt of applications is midnight on 30th April 2026 and interviews will be held on first week in June 2026.

Due to the current employment climate, we are receiving a high number of applicants for each post and as such may not be able to acknowledge receipt of your application. You will however be notified as to whether you made the shortlist soon after the closing date.

We want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities; therefore, we encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. For further details, please see:

www.havant.gov.uk/our-organisation/equality-and-diversity

The council is an inclusive employer and appoints on merit. We are a Disability Confident Employer and have a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for Veterans.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff members to share this commitment.

Havant Borough Council is a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. All employees of the Authority will be expected to support any necessary actions required during an emergency response.