Ecological Consultant

Ecological Consultant

Fixed Term, Part Time

£36,169 to £42,551 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 1 year. This is a part time role working 22.2 hours per week, the pro rata salary will be £21,701 to £25,531 per annum.

Essex County Council (ECC) is one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK, serving a population of 2 million residents, and has a very successful track record of delivering transformational change. ECC anticipated change was needed in the public sector and has worked to deliver better quality at lower cost. We have an ambitious transformation agenda – one with the scope to reach every part of the council. We are changing the way we think, the way we work, and the ways in which we deliver our services. We are committed to becoming a place where individuals, partners and communities feel proud to play their role and genuinely want to belong. We’re immensely proud of our flexible working options.

The Opportunity

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver sustainable development. The purpose of the Ecological Consultant is to provide effective ecological services to clients across the UK.

The Ecological Consultant will advise on ecological matters including development management and policy advice; ecological assessments; habitat and protected species surveys and management projects; and completing specialist tasks on multi-disciplinary projects.

The role requires a qualified, experienced and capable practitioner with good technical skills, and knowledge, including legislation, policy, standards and guidance, as well as good client relationship, communication, and information management skills, and a collaborative, enterprising and client focused approach.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for effective delivery of a range of ecological and countryside management services including: a demanding caseload of minor and simple major development management consultations at all stages of the planning/consent process; evaluating and carrying out ecological assessments (EcIA, HRA,PEAR) of limited scope and complexity; advising on medium and large scale simple, or small scale complex habitat/species management projects, or habitat creation techniques; designing and undertaking standard habitat and protected species surveys; and completing specialists tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.
• Collecting, analysing, and presenting data, evidence (including for enforcement) and advice to recognised standards, reviewing outcomes, and assessing third party compliance.
• Contributing to the development and review of plans, policies and guidance.
• Contributing to development and delivery of promotional and learning material, training activities and events, and engaging with networks, to enhance the recognition and reputation of Place Services.
• Contributing to bids for low-value opportunities and managing low-value projects and contracts against budgets, specifications and indicators.
• Maintaining a professional, client-focused culture and positive client relationships, helping secure feedback for continuous improvement.
• Contributing to improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.
• Developing own commercial awareness of our business and key markets.
• Maintaining a collaborative, high-performance culture and improving personal competency, continually seeking ways to enhance personal performance and practice, securing feedback, and building knowledge and skills.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor’s degree) in a relevant subject and evidence of post qualification experience.
• Good evidence of continuing professional development with Associate Membership of, or working towards Associate Membership of, relevant professional body e.g. CIEEM.
• Proficient technical practitioner with knowledge and experience of development management processes; planning policy, legislation, and enforcement standards and guidance; ecological assessment and evaluation; habitat/species management and habitat creation; habitat and protected species identification and survey; and related office and site-based practices and procedures.
• Can work independently across a range of activities, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, managing simple projects from concept to completion.
• Good awareness of wellbeing and H&S, able to produce and implement standard risk assessments, and to identify and implement safe working practices.
• Can communicate and negotiate confidently and clearly, including independent preparation of written technical advice.
• Understands good client service and can effectively engage contractors, volunteers, clients and their customers, maintaining client relationships.
• Can use a range of common and specialist software e.g. GIS and/or other IT tools, to record and present data, independently carry out straightforward analyse and interpretation, and to interpret and analyse more complex data under supervision.

To read more about us please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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