32677 - Biodiversity Officer

Environment Agency; Warrington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A public environmental organization in Warrington seeks an enthusiastic Biodiversity Officer to provide technical support and advice on biodiversity management within the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire areas. The ideal candidate will hold a relevant degree, demonstrate strong influencing skills, and have a passion for biodiversity. Responsibilities include engaging with internal and external stakeholders, delivering conservation projects, and staying updated on relevant legislation. A full UK driving license is required for this role.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant discipline.
• Ability to influence and engage with stakeholders.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations regarding biodiversity and conservation.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and biodiversity advice in the Greater Manchester area.
• Engage with partners to deliver mitigation and restoration programs.
• Keep up-to-date with legislation and best practices.

Skills

Guidance compliance

Influencing skills

Wetland and river conservation knowledge

Biodiversity communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Innovative working

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Job description

The Biodiversity and Geomorphology team are looking for an enthusiastic, technical Biodiversity Officer to provide advice, guidance, and technical support within the Greater Manchester, Merseyside & Cheshire area.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual, with proven technical and inter-personal skills, to be part of a friendly and hardworking team. You'll be responsible for covering a wide geographical area, providing high quality biodiversity technical advice.

You will provide input into a range of planning applications and projects. You will help identify, design, and deliver a programme of mitigation and restoration activities in surface waters to deliver measurable environmental outcomes. Your work with operational staff will ensure we prevent or minimise ecological impacts from our own activities and those we regulate.

You will proactively engage staff throughout the EA, communicating with colleagues internally and externally to successfully build trusted networks. We seek to develop and influence partnerships and organisations to help meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and 25 Year Environment Plan.

You will keep up to date on changing legislation and best practice in order to inform internal priorities and direction. We aim to shape the job in a way that builds on your strengths and interests and reflects the developing needs of the business.

The team

You’ll join a passionate team of ecologists and geomorphologists based in our Warrington office. The team plays a pivotal role in supporting the organisation to achieve biodiversity and ecological objectives. We screen and advise on internal plans/projects for potential biodiversity and geomorphology impacts, ensuring compliance with legislation. We deliver multiple benefits through river basin management and flood risk management.

Experience/skills required

You’ll be qualified to degree standard (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline and have the ability and knowledge to:

• Provide guidance to ensure compliance with Environment Agency policy and current legislation.
• Apply influencing skills and knowledge of stakeholder engagement techniques to work with both internal and external teams and partners.
• Provide knowledge of wetland and river conservation and legislation relating to wildlife and designated sites, and an understanding of policies relating to biodiversity.
• Achieve outcomes in line with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
• Be a passionate and confident biodiversity champion, understanding it’s importance and being able to communicate this to others.
• Be open to innovative ways of working, especially new opportunities to work with nature.
• Work with internal and external partners to deliver specific outcomes, to time, cost and quality.

This role will require the applicant to have a full UK driving licence and the ability to swim.