Ecologist

**Working hours**:37 hours per week

**Contract type**:18 Months Fixed Term

Colchester City Council is looking to recruit an Ecologist to join the busy Planning team. With new city status, mandatory biodiversity net gain coming and work commencing on the Local Plan Review, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Planning team contributing to protecting and enhancing Colchester’s valued and varied environment and shaping the future of the city.

This role would suit an experienced ecologist, or related discipline, with experience and expertise in environmental and ecology matters. You will lead on the biodiversity net gain agenda and provide advice and guidance on protecting and enhancing biodiversity assets. You will have the opportunity to contribute to detailed work on strategic scale proposals including the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community, Middlewick Ranges, and other strategic allocations; and embed biodiversity into the Local Plan Review. You will be based in the Planning Policy team and contribute to policy formation and implementation and provide advice on ecology in relation to development to the Development Management team, developers, and Councillors.

You will have a good understanding of the Environment Act and the Wildlife and Countryside Act and other environmental legislation. You will be an excellent communicator and build relationships within and outside of the organisation. You will have good research and report writing skills and be able to manage your time effectively.

Previous experience of working in an environmental or ecology role, with links to planning; a relevant degree (e.g. ecology, conservation, environmental management) or an equivalent level of previous experience gained through working in a related field; and membership of a relevant professional body are expected.

For a copy of the job description, please click here.

Colchester City Council has a wide range of services and facilities that can involve dealing with children or vulnerable adults. We treat our obligations for the safety of children and vulnerable adults seriously and expect our staff to be committed to the principles of our published policies and to adhere to the procedures contained within them.