Senior Planning Ecologist

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About The Role

Salary: HC7 £31,067 - £35,235 Per Annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Plough Lane Hereford

Closing Date: 17/02/2025

Located at the heart of the Marches, the historic border countryside where England meets Wales, Herefordshire is one of the most rural counties in England. Beautiful, unspoilt countryside, two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, historic parklands, the cathedral city of Hereford and attractive market towns provide an excellent quality of life.

In 2019 Herefordshire Council declared a climate emergency and committed to minimising our impact on the environment and aspiring to carbon neutrality by 2030. The scope of this declaration has now been broadened to encompass an ecological emergency, providing an exciting opportunity for the Natural Environment team to the lead the way in developing new initiatives across both the council and the wider county through our work with local nature partnerships.

Acting as Senior Planning Ecologist, within the award winning Natural Environment team comprising; Trees, Landscape, Ecology and Public Open Space and working closely with colleagues in the Development Management, Forward Plans and Enforcement teams, as well as other environmental specialists, your main duties are:

• To provide ecological advice to the Development Management team and other internal and external customers working within appropriate timescales

• To review, interpret and advise on specialist ecological and environmental reports, guidance, planning policy and legislation

• To maintain and seek to advance knowledge, competency and best practice across a range of ecological matters including Habitats Regulations Assessments, nutrient impacts, designated sites, habitats and species and identifying opportunities for biodiversity enhancements

To work with other teams across the council to address the council's recently declared Climate and Ecological Emergency.

Benefits of working for Herefordshire Council:

A competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS)
• Generous Annual Leave: 31 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum
• Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

We welcome applicants whatever their personal characteristics or social identity. All requests for flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments will be considered.

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the "Disability Confident" scheme;
• Those who indicate in their supported statement that they serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, or their families. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant;
• Those who indicate in their supporting statement that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this role.

To apply, please submit your CV and complete the supporting statement within the application form, referring to the job description & person specification, detailing how you meet the specific requirements of the role.