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Your new companyMy client is a small company with a multi-disciplinary approach, covering ecology, arboriculture and landscape. Their business model is based on employing highly qualified and experienced consultants who are home-based across the south and south-east, supported by high quality IT systems and a friendly virtual team environment (Teams meetings, support and mentoring). They aim to provide a high quality, timely and effective consultancy to our clients who are predominantly in the planning and heritage sectors. Typical clients range from single householders to mainstream housing developers, planning consultants, architects, heritage landowners as well as utilities contractors. The size of projects range from single dwellings to 200+ residential units and an increasing amount of heritage site work for forts, castles and halls.Your new role
- Devising, undertaking and managing a wide range of ecological surveys including UK Habitats Classification and protected species surveys and mitigation.
- Carrying out desk studies, consultations, research, data management and analysis and report writing.
- Preparing protected species mitigation licences, and being the Named Ecologist on these for bats in particular.
- To project manage small, medium and large contracts and work with clients to ensure they have the necessary information when they are ready to submit a planning application.
- To attend design team meetings and on-site meetings with planning consultants, LPA officers etc as required.
- To prepare Ecological Impact Assessments and ideally carry out Habitats Regulations Assessments.
- To manage project-based finances including providing the information needed to the accounts department for invoicing and maintaining commercial awareness at all stages of the project.
- To liaise with internal team members regarding landscape and arboricultural issues and external team members in the wider design team.
- Conduct a wide range of Phase 2 surveys, in line with the latest survey guidelines.
- Managing the department and recruiting a team of Ecological individuals.
What you'll need to succeed
- A minimum of ten years' full-time ecological consultancy experience, including extensive experience of Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, commercial bat surveys and Ecological Impact Assessment.
- An undergraduate degree in Ecology or other relevant environmental discipline.
- At least one protected species licences, including a level 2 class licence for bats.
- Full membership of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)
- Experienced line manager
- Experienced at managing small-medium sized projects including client management, quote preparation and budgeting and report writing/reviewing.
- Excellent report writing and reviewing skills and the ability to turn around high-quality reports in good time.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Sufficient botanical knowledge to carry out UK habitat condition assessments with species lists, ideally a minimum of a FISC 3 qualification.
- Biodiversity Net Gain experience, including use of the latest Defra Metric.
- Excellent knowledge of current UK legislation and best practice policy.
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work, with business use insurance.
- Suitable home work space and comfortable working remotely.
What you'll get in return
- Competitive salary of £60,000 - £70,000 DOE
- Home-based (so your day starts from the moment you log on or leave your home for surveys, no more unpaid commutes!)
- Flexible working patterns and flexible hours with part-time options available
- Contributory pension scheme (NEST)
- 28 days annual leave + extra time off between Christmas and New Year
- TOIL scheme alongside rest time incorporated into projects
- Generous CPD allowance
- Paid professional memberships
- Working from home allowance
What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.
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