Senior Ecologist Planner

Senior Ecologist Planner

DN1 area · Permanent · Hybrid Salary £35,570–£39,481 Help shape development proposals from the outset and put your ecology skills to work on practical conservation projects. As part of a small planning team, you’ll advise on everything from small housing schemes to major strategic developments, with opportunities to get out on site and contribute to habitat banking, bioacoustic monitoring and species recovery. If you’re an ecologist in consultancy looking to move into planning, or a planning ecologist who wants to keep fieldwork in the mix, this role offers both.

## What you’ll do

Review ecological surveys and reports, assess impacts on habitats and protected species, and advise on mitigation and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

Work with planning officers and developers to improve proposals and help ensure agreed ecological measures are delivered on site.

Shape local planning policy and provide expert ecological evidence at appeals, hearings and inquiries when required.

Work with the Principal Ecologist, Principal Biodiversity Officer and Local Record Centre on practical projects that support the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

## What you’ll bring

You’ll have a degree or postgraduate qualification in ecology or a related environmental field, plus experience applying ecology to the planning system. You’ll hold relevant professional membership, such as CIEEM, or have the experience needed to gain it, alongside evidence of continuing professional development. You’ll be confident interpreting survey findings and applying your knowledge of UK habitats, protected species, designated sites, planning policy and BNG. You’ll be able to explain your advice clearly, negotiate with stakeholders and manage competing priorities. Experience contributing to planning policy or giving evidence at appeals is desirable.

## How you’ll work

The role combines regular office attendance with site visits and local travel. Hybrid working, part-time hours, job share, compressed hours and flexitime can be discussed, subject to service needs