Principal Ecologist

Birmingham City Council; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City Council seeks a Principal Ecologist to join the Planning Team, focusing on ecological diversity and climate resilience. The role involves responding to planning applications, contributing to policy, and collaborating on strategic projects to enhance Birmingham's natural environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in ecology or the natural environment.
• Knowledge of biodiversity net gain requirements.

Responsibilities

• Responding to planning applications and ensuring compliance with BNG.
• Inputting to planning policy and masterplanning.
• Monitoring biodiversity duties under the Environment Act 2021.

Skills

Ecology

Environmental Policy

Education

Degree in Environmental Subject

Job description

Job Description

#internal

Please note this vacancy is only available to Birmingham City Council employees.

Principal Ecologist

Permanent

Grade 5 - £41,511 - £49,764

Working 36.5 hours per week

The natural environment now sits at the very heart of the planning process and Birmingham City Council is looking to recruit a Principal Ecologist to join the Planning Team to help deliver an ecologically diverse, climate adapted and resilient city.

Despite Birmingham being a major conurbation, the City is home to a wealth of nature sites, including Sutton Park SSSI and NNR - with its fantastic ancient woodland, heathland, wetland and acid grassland habitats - and over 150 local wildlife sites encompassing a diversity of habitats from species-rich meadows and woodlands to urban river and canal corridors.

Significant major investment is reshaping the City with plans to open up significant sections of the River Rea, commercialise land around HS2 and implement urban extensions, all of which require the creation of world class natural environments, landscaping and mitigation.

The City Council has adopted a 25-year City of Nature Plan, alongside the new Central Birmingham Framework, is updating its Local Development Plan and introducing Net Zero Carbon ambitions. Together these will prioritise the natural environment in both plan making and decision taking.

Additionally, Biodiversity Net Gain is gathering momentum, and provides a further opportunity to deliver positive ecological outcomes for the City. We are therefore looking for someone with enthusiasm and experience to help shape and deliver this exciting challenge.

The post sits alongside the existing Principal Ecologist, in the multi-disciplinary City Design Team within the Planning Department. The post holder will be required to work with this wider team of Urban Designers, Conservation Officers and Arboriculture Officers in supporting the Council's planning functions and thinking creatively to transform Birmingham into a greener, nature-rich place.

You will be dealing with a varied workload, including:

• Responding to a range of planning applications and appeals, including ensuring compliance with mandatory BNG requirements;
• Inputting to emerging planning policy and masterplanning;
• Contributing to monitoring and reporting against the City Council's statutory biodiversity duties under the Environment Act 2021, including monitoring of BNG;
• Supporting regional and partnership working, including internal departments, the work of West Midlands Combined Authority and Birmingham & Black Country Local Sites Partnership, collaboration on the West Midlands Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and engagement with statutory agencies, the local environmental records centre and local natural environment NGOs; and
• Contributing to the delivery of strategic projects.

Applicants should hold a degree or equivalent in an environmental subject and have experience of working in ecology or the natural environment.

As the UK's second city, Birmingham is a significant place to grow your career and gain exceptional experience in the field of ecology.

For informal enquiries contact Nicola Farrin (Principal Ecologist) at [e-mail].

Please upload your up-to-date CV via the attachments part of your application, this is required for shortlisting. Unfortunately, we cannot consider any applications without a CV attached

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We are dedicated to supporting internal mobility and the development of our people. As such, applications from internal employees and those under S118 will be given priority and reviewed before external applications are considered.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Job Description and Person Specification

We strive to advertise all roles for a minimum of two weeks. However, due to high application volumes vacancies may close earlier than the stated deadline. We encourage you to submit your application without delay to ensure consideration.

About Us

We are a disability confident employer and we encourage applicants with disabilities to apply. We also welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) may need to apply for a visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and may require a Certificate of Sponsorship from Birmingham City Council for a skilled worker visa (if the job is eligible).