Salary: £33,024 - £36,648 per annumEcology and Biodiversity Officer37 hours per week, Fixed contract to 31st March 2025Salary £33,024 - £36,648 per annumCould you help Wychavon and Malvern Hills Councils secure gains for biodiversity through the planning system? We’re looking for someone who can boost our existing specialist ecology and biodiversity service which enables the Councils’ delivery of their biodiversity and natural environment duties, responsibilities and ambitions. While the role will have a planning focus, enhancing the natural environment is at the heart of both Councils’ forward plans and strategies so there will be opportunities to get involved in a range of community and corporate projects, providing ecological advice and guidance to colleagues, elected Members and community groups. If you’ve got experience in analysing complex ecological reports with a good understanding of habitat and species surveys and can effectively communicate your findings to a non-specialist audience, then we’d love to hear from you.You’ll join a team of passionate natural and historic built environment specialists working across two beautiful and biodiverse districts in Worcestershire. This post will be based at the Civic Centre in the thriving riverside market town of Pershore, with regular working in the historic Council House building in Priory Park, Malvern. About you The successful candidate will:Be responsible for the delivery of specialist natural heritage, ecology and biodiversity advice to developers and their agents, Council Officers, Members, and other organisations.Support the full integration of Biodiversity Net Gain with the Councils’ processes and activities.Assess in line with national and local policy the ecological and biodiversity implications of development proposals at all stages of the planning process, including pre-application, planning application, post approval condition discharge, monitoring and enforcement in respect of biodiversity net gain.Prepare evidence and representing the Councils as expert witness in appeals, informal hearings and public inquiries on matters relating to ecology and biodiversity.Contribute to local policy development, advice and guidance on matters relating to ecology, biodiversity and natural heritage.Undertake site appraisal, scheme design and contract preparation with respect to the Councils’ overall environmental plans, strategies and projects involving biodiversity and natural heritage.Develop and deliver ecological advice, guidance and training to other Council services, elected Members and other forums.Develop, administer and monitor biodiversity and ecology data and mapping systems to support the reporting of statutory and discretionary biodiversity information.What we can offer Our staff are at the heart of what we do, and as a result we are always looking to recruit, develop and retain the very best talent we can find. So, as well as a rewarding career, we offer a range of attractive benefits, such as: Excellent pension scheme with employer contributionsGenerous annual leave entitlement with options to purchase additional annual leaveCommitted training programme and development opportunitiesOnsite nursery with 20% staff discountDiscounted Gym and swim membershipHealth and Wellbeing support and a Free Employee Assistance scheme including access to counselling servicesCycle to Work schemeEmployee Discounts with a range of companies including EE and the Kaarp discount scheme.We are an employer that values face to face communication, collaboration and connection, therefore all our roles have an office-based requirement with some agile working as part of the role.To discuss the post or for further information, please call Susanne Hiscock on 01386 565180.Closing date: Sunday 7 July 2024Interview date: Monday 15 July 2024Please note if we experience a high intake of applications, we may close the role and interview for the position sooner than advertised.Attached documentsJob DescriptionEmployee BenefitsLocation: Pershore