Environment and Design Manager (Ecology)

Salary: £53,051 – £57,372 per annum + Relocation Allowance
Grade: N
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Location: Northallerton - Hybrid

As our Environment and Design Manager (Ecology), you’ll take the professional lead for ecology within our Planning Service, leading a specialist team and influencing how environmental considerations are embedded in future growth and development across North Yorkshire.

This is a senior role offering significant professional autonomy and variety. You’ll help shape the new North Yorkshire Local Plan, influence strategic policy and place-making, and work alongside specialists in Landscape, Urban Design and the Historic Environment.

You’ll also enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working, combining home working with access to our collaborative office bases in Selby, Richmond, Scarborough, Northallerton, Skipton and Harrogate.

Our team

The Council’s Planning Service plays a fundamental role in shaping North Yorkshire’s natural and built environment. We’re working to ensure future development meets the needs of our communities while creating great places to live, work and visit.

Role summary

You’ll be one of three Environment and Design Managers within Planning Policy and Place, working across a multidisciplinary service covering Ecology, Landscape, Urban Design and the Historic Environment.

Working collaboratively with your fellow managers and specialist teams, you’ll help deliver high-quality, sustainable development across North Yorkshire while ensuring ecology is effectively represented in strategic planning, policy and development management.

Your key work areas will include:

• Working closely with the Environment and Design Managers to deliver strategic work across all specialisms on behalf of the council and with neighbouring authorities.
• Supporting the preparation of new policies and site allocations within the North Yorkshire Local Plan and relevant guidance and appraisals.
• Providing training and specialist advice on Ecology to support the development management process and ensure legislative requirements are met.

The breadth of the role calls for a strong understanding of ecology alongside an appreciation of related technical disciplines. You’ll work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, partners and infrastructure providers to achieve positive outcomes.

Duties and responsibilities

You’ll work alongside two other Environment and Design Managers, collectively leading the promotion, creation, protection and enhancement of the councils natural and built environment. Together you’ll bring specialist expertise to the council’s sustainable growth and place making agenda.

• You’ll lead and proactively drive forward the development and implementation of relevant plans, strategies and policies, including the councils local plan – blueprint for the council’s place-shaping, economic and housing growth ambitions.
• You’ll take a positive, creative and innovative approach to service delivery, using resources efficiently and effectively and exploring opportunities for income generation.
• You’ll support the Head of Planning Policy & Place in driving a comprehensive programme of improvement and transformation across the environment and design function and the wider Planning Service.
• You’ll keep up to date with changes in planning policy and legislation, proactively recommending, and implementing necessary changes to plans, policies and practices as required.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for an experienced ecology professional who combines strong technical knowledge with confident, supportive leadership. You’ll be comfortable working strategically, providing professional advice and bringing people together to achieve positive outcomes for North Yorkshire’s natural environment.

• You’ll have a degree and/or post-graduate diploma in relevant subject, together with Chartered Membership of relevant specialism (such as CIEEM, CMLI, MRTPI)
• You’ll bring an in-depth knowledge of all relevant planning legislation and national and regional planning policy and guidance and with ability to expertly interpret complex planning legislation to advise senior leaders, industry partners, and community stakeholders
• You’ll have experience of successfully leading a specialist ecologist team or a multidisciplinary team that includes Ecologists
• You’ll have strong management skills and experience of effectively managing people, budgets and resources
• You’ll be able to manage competing priorities effectively, both across your own workload and that of the team

What can we offer you?

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of great benefits to help you financially and make life a bit easier:

• a local government pension scheme with generous employer contribution
• salary sacrifice schemes
• employee discount benefits including shopping, supermarkets, gym discounts and more
• Health Assured – confidential help and support for your wellbeing
• learning, development and career advancement opportunities

Click on our Total Rewards Brochure to see the full range of benefits.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Linda Mckenzie, Head of Planning Policy & Place ([email protected] or 01423 556583).

Key dates:

Closing Date: 8 November 2026

Interviews: 19 & 20 November 2026

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

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