Senior Ecologist

**Senior Ecologist**:
**Job description**
- Due to unprecedented demand, we are currently looking to recruit a new Senior Ecologist into the well-resourced, well supported, and friendly Natural Environment Team at Greater Cambridge Shared Planning. This addition will complete a team of three ecologists for the LPA. Our team are busy ensuring that the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain is on track, enhancing our natural environment through the planning process.
- You will sit within an experienced, and motivated team who ensure that planning and development does not damage our remaining biodiversity but enhances it and you will be working as part of the Greater Cambridge Planning Service, a joint offering of South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge City, coming together to make a difference to spatial planning and biodiversity.
- Essential Criteria
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience as Consultant Ecologist or Local Government Ecologist and knowledge of Ecology within the UK planning system ideally including:

- An understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain and the use of the DEFRA Metric
- An understanding of the relevant National Planning Policy Framework
- Knowledge of Habitat Regs Assessments and Appropriate Assessments
- Knowledge of EIA Scoping and Screening opinions
- Experience of conducting protected species surveys
- Experience of evaluating reports
- A familiarity of GIS
- The ability to handle complex workloads and deliver to deadlines
- Experience of writing reports for a non-expert audience
- Ability to make key decisions quickly and efficiently
- Good time management skills
- Ability to work alone and as part of a team
- Excellent communication skills
- Desirable
- 5 years (or more) experience as a Local Government Ecologist
- Local knowledge of the Greater Cambridge area
- Professional membership of CIEEM or equivalent (we can support this)
- Knowledge of District Level Licensing for great crested newts
- We anticipate that this post will begin ASAP.
- We are currently taking part in a 4 day working week (32 hours per week) to improve recruitment and retention and support the wellbeing of our colleagues. You can read more about it here 4-day week trial or talk to us about the detail of this flexible benefit we have been offering.
- For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Daniel Weaver (Principle Ecologist) on 01954 713402, or John Cornell Natural Environment Team Leader on 07766114267
- Closing date: 9am Friday April 19th 2024
- Interviews: Week beginning April 22nd 2024