Ecologist

Canal & River Trust; Northwich, Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An established charity dedicated to preserving waterways is seeking an experienced Ecologist to join their North West Environment team. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on nature recovery while working collaboratively with stakeholders and volunteers. The successful candidate will provide expert ecological advice, conduct habitat surveys, and implement environmental strategies. With a focus on community engagement and conservation, this position promises a rewarding career in a supportive environment that values diversity and personal development.

Benefits

25 days paid holiday

Competitive pension scheme

Access to personal development courses

Free specialist counselling

Employee benefits including store discounts

Paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Hold a degree in ecology or a related subject.
• Proven experience in applying specialist knowledge.
• Knowledge of UK & European policy frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise in ecology for the North West region.
• Carry out habitat surveys and create habitat improvement plans.
• Engage with stakeholders to promote the Trust's environmental objectives.

Skills

Ecology

Conservation

Habitat Surveys

Stakeholder Engagement

Negotiation

Communication

Problem-Solving

Education

Degree in Ecology or Related Subject

Tools

GIS

Job description

Job Purpose

Job Title: Ecologist.

Advertised Salary: £33,977 + £390 per month Car Cash Allowance.

Base Location: Home-based with North West Hub.

We're the charity who look after and bring to life 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, because we believe that life is better by water. Every role across the Trust plays its part in transforming our canals and rivers into spaces where local people want to spend time and feel better, bringing wellbeing benefits to millions.

We currently have an opportunity for an experienced Ecologist to join our North West Environment team within the Operations Directorate. The Ecologist will predominantly cover the North West region.

Are you passionate about ecology and conservation and looking to make a real difference to nature recovery?

The successful candidate will provide the Trust with technical expertise in Ecology, with particular responsibility for a defined geographical area. Working as directed, they will support and deliver the Trust’s protection, improvement and promotion of the natural environment of the waterways and provide professional environmental services within their area of expertise to help achieve a wide range of corporate objectives.

Location

The role will be based working from home, with the allocation of a nearby Hub in the North West for collaborative working. You will attend site visits across the North West region with a focus on the Manchester area.

Knowledge, Skills/Qualifications & Experience

Key ecological accountabilities:

• Working collaboratively and providing expert technical advice as required to both internal Trust teams and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the implementation of relevant Asset Management Strategies (vegetation, dredging, environmental assets) to protect, maintain, and where appropriate, enhance condition of Trust assets and their performance for the customer.
• Carry out habitat surveys to inform works to Trust assets.
• Deliver awareness training, toolbox talks and facilitate practical training for Trust colleagues, contractors, volunteers and stakeholder groups.
• Create habitat improvement plans, method statements and risk assessment to inform detail on how works will be delivered.
• Implement relevant inspection/monitoring and maintenance programmes for environmental/soft estate assets within their geographical remit.
• Lead volunteer groups and/or work with Trust volunteer leaders in delivery of objectives. Ensure an engaging experience for participants.
• Contribute to national and local programmes of engagement with customers, volunteers, stakeholders and the general public to promote the value of waterways and the work of the Trust to increase the Trust’s reputation and influence and secure additional resources for our work, focusing on our key environmental priorities.
• Support new or existing citizen science surveys on our canal network, e.g. for otters and water voles.
• Adhere to UK statutory environmental policies and internal Trust environmental procedures.

Other accountabilities:

• Work safely ensuring the safety of others and contribute to safe working in all activities.
• Display the Trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Ensuring that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of Trust life and promoting inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the Trust’s policies and values.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own and others behaviour.
• Safeguarding - To be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practises that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times.

About you

Technical:

• Hold a degree in ecology or strongly related subject.
• Proven experience in application of specialist knowledge within a business environment.
• Able to influence/negotiate effectively with internal and external contacts to achieve desired outcomes.
• Knowledge of, and practical experience of operating within, UK & European policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of undertaking habitat surveys, desirable.
• Experience of undertaking protected species surveys, desirable.
• Membership of CIEEM, desirable.
• Knowledge of GIS, desirable.
• A recognised qualification in Arboriculture and/or possession of a bat licence desirable

General:

• You will be a passionate and effective advocate for nature recovery.
• Proven evidence of continuing professional development.
• Excellent organisation and scheduling abilities.
• Good communicator to a range of audiences, able to adapt style and content as appropriate. Capable in a range of media types.
• Reliable and flexible.
• Self-motivated and show initiative.
• Able to work well alone or in a team.
• Good problem-solving abilities.
• Full UK driving licence with access to own car for business use.

If you have any questions about the role please contact [e-mail]

In addition to the specialist expertise and professional qualifications you bring, it is also essential that you have an ability to engage with a variety of stakeholders across the organisation and wider, and communicate effectively to protect and promote the Trusts’ waterways environment and ecology and enjoy working with volunteers and community groups.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

What We Offer

Compensation is made up as follows: £33,977 + car cash allowance. Additionally, we also offer a competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, great holiday entitlement (increasing with years of service) and numerous other employee benefits all of which can be found here(https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits).

• 25 days paid holiday in addition to statutory leave, increasing with years of service in first five years.
• Competitive contributory DC Pension scheme arrangement, where we will double your contribution to a maximum of 10%.
• Access to a variety of personal development & growth courses and opportunities
• Free access to specialist counselling on a range of issues – health; financial; lifestyle; well-being; domestic & neighbourly matters.
• Access to a range of employee benefits including – store discounts; boating holiday discounts; holiday purchase scheme.
• Expansive maternity/paternity provisions.
• Progressive access to learning tools and CPD.
• Paid volunteering leave, volunteering for local community project work (dependent upon service)

At the Trust we care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We strongly believe that a diverse workforce brings with it a diversity of ideas, thinking and ways of working which enhances what we do as a Trust. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of. All candidates will be treated on the basis of their merits, skills and abilities and solely by being assessed against the requirements for the job.

The Trust is open to applications from those seeking part-time work/job share.

We believe that continuous personal & professional development are important, and through many Trust internal & externally supported development programmes we are pleased to support your ongoing growth and development in this role.

Find out more about the work we doon ourwebsite:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us