Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£31,022 per annum

About the Role
The Planning Ecologist Technician will assist Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority in nature conservation, enhancing the National Park’s wildlife, and promoting biodiversity. You will contribute to planning policy formulation, guidance development, and development management casework to ensure compliance with statutory obligations and biodiversity duties. Working collaboratively with officers, Members of the Authority, and other stakeholders, you will be a key point of contact for ecological matters related to the planning function.

You will support the provision of specialist and technical advice on ecological and biodiversity issues, including nutrient management, and assist the Senior Planning Ecologist in developing advice, policy, and guidance such as Supplementary Planning Guidance. Your role will involve providing comments on pre-application enquiries, planning applications, and consented developments affecting landscape features, designated sites, priority habitats, and species within required timescales.

Additional responsibilities include assisting with Planning Obligations to secure biodiversity enhancements, monitoring implementation of biodiversity gains and protected species mitigation, supporting Appropriate Assessments related to European Designations, and responding to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening and scoping requests. You may represent or assist in representing the Authority at public meetings, planning appeals, inquiries, court cases, and committee meetings.

You will also assist in providing advice and quality control for assessments and works related to Statutory Undertakers’ infrastructure projects, particularly those affecting Authority land, landscape features, designated sites, and priority habitats. Conservation advice on reinstatement, restoration, and ecological enhancement works will also form part of your duties. Other duties appropriate to the grade and nature of the post may be assigned by the Director of Planning and Place or the Chief Executive.

Experience
- Knowledge and understanding of legislation, policy, and guidance affecting natural resource management and development management
- Understanding of ecology, survey methodologies, habitat management, and restoration
- Good IT skills including MS Office and Document Management systems
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders including the public, applicants, and agents
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Organisational and interpersonal skills to support complex work areas
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team with flexibility
- Diplomatic approach when dealing with the public, National Park Members, staff, and stakeholders

About you
- Enthusiastic and committed to nature conservation and biodiversity enhancement
- Able to demonstrate initiative and flexibility in your work approach
- Willingness to learn and develop skills in geographic information and spatial modelling systems (or willingness to develop these skills)
- A valid full driving licence
- Welsh Language Level 0 (support and learning options available to meet Welsh language requirements during employment)

Qualifications
- Degree or equivalent in Ecology or related subject (essential)
- Postgraduate qualification in Ecology or related subject (desirable)
- Minimum of 1 year experience, ideally within a protected area, local planning authority, or conservation organisation providing conservation policy advice and development management support (desirable)
- Experience of habitat assessment, management, and creation (desirable)
- Full member of CIEEM or working towards this status (desirable)
- Understanding of SEA, EIA, and HRA principles and supporting legislation (desirable)
- Basic knowledge of the planning system including legislation, procedure, and guidance (desirable)
- Welsh Language Level 1 (desirable)