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Assistant Ecological Consultant

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
England, Essex, Chelmsford
Salary
£26100 - £30706 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Closing date
4 Feb 2025
View more categoriesView less categories
Job role
Officer
Contract Type
Full time

Job Details

Assistant Ecological Consultant

Permanent, Full Time

£26,100 to £30,706 Per Annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 7th February 2025 at 11.59pm

This role will be filled on a hybrid basis. This means you can work remotely part of the working week, with an expectation to attend the office at least 1 day per week. Any journeys to the office would be at your own expense. More specific details about this can be discussed at the interview stage should you be invited to interview.

The Opportunity

Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council (ECC) providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local authorities, and other public bodies. Our purpose is to support the public sector to deliver its role in sustainable development. The purpose of the Assistant Ecological Consultant is to support the effective delivery of ecology services to our clients across Essex and England.

The Assistant Ecological Consultant will support the ecology team on ecological matters, including assisting with: the provision of development management and policy advice to local authorities; evaluating and carrying out ecological assessments; advising on habitat/species management projects and habitat creation; completing straightforward habitat and protected species surveys, and undertaking supervised specialist tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.

The role requires a specialist with: graduate level technical knowledge and understanding of ecological issues, and relevant legislation, policy, standards, and guidance; the ability to communicate to a range of audiences; and an awareness of good client service.

Accountabilities

  • Supports the effective delivery of a range of ecology services under supervision including: assisting with a case load of straight forward and minor development management and consent consultations at all stages of the planning/consent process (pre-application, application and post consent); assisting with the evaluation of, and carrying out, ecological assessments (EcIA, HRA, PEAR) of limited scope and complexity; advising on small-scale and simple habitat/species management project, or habitat creation techniques; undertaking straight forward habitat and protected/priority species surveys, including data capture, analysis and presentation; and completing supervised tasks as part of multi-disciplinary projects.
  • Supports effective working relationships with clients, helping to secure feedback to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, and assisting in the maintenance of a client-focused culture across Place Services.
  • Responsible for enhancing the recognition and reputation of Place Services by supporting promotional events and activities, and by engaging with internal and external networks under supervision.
  • Support the review and development of legislation, plans, policy, and standards, and assisting with the collection, presentation and preservation of evidence, and preparation of casework documents (including for planning appeals and enforcement) to recognised standards.
  • Support the development and delivery of training activities and events, helping to prepare learning materials.
  • Support changes to improve effectiveness and efficiency of the technical delivery of ecological services.
  • Contributes to tendering processes for low-value opportunities; management of low-value projects and contracts; and supervision of contractors and volunteers, against approved budgets, specifications, and indicators.
  • Contributes to the execution of ECC and client's responsibilities and duties of care in relation to protected and priority species and habitats, and the wider natural environment, through the provision of supervised technical support and assistance.

The Experience You Will Bring

  • Educated to RQF level 6 (Bachelor's degree) in a relevant subject, or equivalent by experience.
  • Evidence of continuing professional development with membership of, or working towards Qualifying Membership of, relevant professional body e.g.CIEEM.
  • Graduate level technical and subject matter knowledge, including demonstrable awareness of: relevant development management processes; of planning policy, legislation, and enforcement, standards, and guidance; ecological assessments e.g., EcIA, HRA, PEAR, and evaluation; habitat/species management and habitat creation techniques; habitat and protected and priority species identification and survey techniques; and related office and site-based practices and procedures.
  • Able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, including working at pace, prioritising work across a range of projects and activities, meeting deadlines and successfully delivering outcomes, with supervision and support when necessary. Demonstrable understanding of systems and processes for effective project management, with experience desirable, and ability to support project delivery by undertaking supervised tasks.
  • Demonstrable awareness of wellbeing and H&S, with ability to undertake simple risk assessments, and to implement safe working practices.
  • Able to communicate appropriately with different audiences, including through the preparation, with supervision, of clear, concise, and factual written technical advice, documents and reports for straightforward casework and projects, and at public consultations.
  • Ability to establish positive working relationships, with demonstrable awareness of good client service.
  • Ability to use a range of common software packages, including all Microsoft applications, and, under supervision, to use relevant specialist software, such as GIS, to record and present a range of evidence and data, and to carry out straightforward research, analysis, and interpretation.

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.

Company

Why Essex?

Essex County Council covers 1,300 square miles from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary. From the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career.

We celebrate difference and work to ensure that no one is disadvantaged when accessing services, employment or public life in Essex. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interviewing all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Free to deliver big

We recruit creative, ambitious, talented people, and free them up to think – and deliver – big.

We’ve made substantial changes in recent years, reorganising how we’re structured and how we work, so we can protect the most vulnerable and enable our economy to grow. Join us and you’ll be trusted to take control, manage change and make a lasting impact. You’ll be able to call upon external partners and suppliers to help you deliver. More importantly, talented, trailblazing colleagues – including many industry-leaders – will be right by your side to share ideas, knowledge and experience.

Find out how Essex County Council is changing, and how you’ll fit in.

Employee Recognition & Engagement

Here are some of the things we have in place to give our employees a sense of belonging, involvement and recognition. 

Employee Networks:

  • Ethnically Diverse Employee Network (EDEN)
  • Carers Forum 
  • Christian Network 
  • Disabled Employees Network 
  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Network
  • Parents Network 
  • Women’s Network
  • Men’s Network
  • Young People and Apprentice Network. 

You Make The Difference’ Awards - giving employees the opportunity to nominate individuals or teams who go above and beyond for our residents.

Employee Surveys – where we listen to the voices of our people and take action on what we hear.

Employee Panels – giving you the opportunity to feed back on a range of policies and initiatives, network with colleagues and influence far-reaching changes.

Learning and Development

We have developed diverse learning opportunities to support our people to grow both personally and professionally. This includes:

  • A large suite of online training and tools
  • Dedicated learning events such as ‘LearnFest’ – our flagship annual celebration of learning
  • Apprenticeships for both new and existing colleagues
  • Financial support to achieve professional qualifications
  • Support from subject matter experts 
  • The opportunity to share your own expertise to up-skill colleagues
  • Leadership and executive coaching
  • Learning on demand
  • Career pathways

Rewards and Benefits

  • Family Friendly flexible Working
  • Generous holiday and special leave allowances (including the option to purchase extra holiday)
  • Local Government Pension Scheme
  • Life Assurance of three times annual salary
  • Volunteering leave (up to 4 days per year)
  • Employee wellbeing and counselling
  • Travel discounts & season ticket loans
  • Learning and Development opportunities/coaching & mentoring
  • Payment of professional fees for approved professions
  • Eye care vouchers
  • Lease car scheme (dependent on business needs)
  • Up to £8,000 relocation package (subject to terms and conditions)

You’ll also have access to MyReward, a unique platform for Essex County Council employees to gain various discounts and savings.

Your Wellbeing

At Essex County Council we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people. We work closely with our employees to provide wellbeing support based on their needs. We strive to enable the right environment, conditions, and behaviours so individual and organisational wellbeing is embedded in everything we do.

Join us and get Inspired to do More.

Company info
Website
Telephone
0845 743 0430
Location
County Hall
Market Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom

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