Senior Ecologist

**Senior Ecologist**:
**Job description**
- Greater Cambridge Shared Planning is a shared planning service across both South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council, and one of the most dynamic and high-profile Local Planning Authorities in England. We are currently looking to recruit a Senior Ecologist into an exciting new role to join our team of specialists as they help deliver Biodiversity Net Gain across our jurisdiction.
- Joining the well-resourced Natural Environment Team at Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, this role complete a team of three Ecologists, Tree officers and Landscape Architects within the specialist consultancy arm of this award-winning LPA.
- 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 within an Ecology role or as a 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 Standardised Biodiversity Metric
- An understanding of the relevant National Planning Policy Framework
- 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
- Experience as a Local Government Ecologist
- Local knowledge of the Greater Cambridge area
- Knowledge of EIA Scoping and Screening opinions
- Knowledge of Habitat Regs Assessments and Appropriate Assessments
- Professional membership of CIEEM or equivalent (we can support this)
- Knowledge of District Level Licensing for great crested newts
- A sense of humour
- 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 (Principal Ecologist) on 01954 713402, or John Cornell on 07766114267
- Closing date: 9am 11 June 2024
- Interviews: To be confirmed