Ecologist & BNG Officer

Team: PND - Technical Team

Job Family: Enabling - CBG10/11 (dependent on experience with support for progression provided)

Salary: CBG10 - £38,476 - £40,069 per annum pro rata
             CBG11 - £41,042 - £44,296 per annum pro rata

Hours: 37 hours a week

Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, including site visits, which is likely to be twice a week but no less than once per month.

Contract Type: Hybrid - Permanent

Closing Date: 19th July 2026

Interview Date: W/C 20th July 2026

About the role

Central Bedfordshire Council is looking to appoint an Ecologist to join our Natural Environment team within our Technical Skills Team. This is a key professional role providing ecological advice across the planning system and the wider council activities.

You will play an important part in protecting and enhancing Central Bedfordshire’s biodiversity, supporting sustainable development, and helping to deliver the council’s ambitions around nature recovery networks and biodiversity net gain.

The Council has an ambitious agenda with significant growth planned to 2025 for up to 39,000 homes and 24,000 jobs and a new Local Plan to 2050 is being prepared.  You will be part of our multi-disciplinary Technical Skills Team within Strategic Growth, where you will promote our rich biodiversity and help the Council meet its vision for the area. As the Responsible Authority for the Bedfordshire LNRS, delivery of its biodiversity goals are important.

What will you be doing?

As an Ecologist, you will provide robust, proportionate ecological advice to internal colleagues and external stakeholders, primarily as consultee to planning applications, ranging from major development to small householder applications.

Your work will include:

• Reviewing planning applications and associated ecological surveys, including interpretation of wildlife and habitats legislation.
• Reviewing biodiversity net gain (BNG) proposals and biodiversity gain conditions.
• Negotiating with applicants, agents, and consultees, working closely with Development Management Case Officers to agree appropriate mitigation and planning conditions.
• Undertaking site visits and ecological surveys, including monitoring BNG and Council owned SANG sites.
• Monitoring long term Mineral and Waste Restoration Plans.
• Represent the Council at planning appeals including hearings, inquiries and public forums acting as an expert witness when required.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, developers, statutory bodies and environmental partners to conserve and enhance the natural environment across the county.
• Providing ecological input to the councils Local Plan and other strategic documents to support policy making.
• Review Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).
• Supporting the enforcement team relating to potential breaches of legislation/conditions.
• Representing the council at meetings, forums and public events, promoting biodiversity.

You will work collaboratively with colleagues across Planning, Environment, Highways, Parks and Legal Services, as well as with external partners including Natural England, the Environment Agency and local wildlife organisations.

You will have:

• A degree (or equivalent) in ecology, nature conservation or a closely related discipline
• Minimum Associate membership of, or active progression towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as CIEEM
• Knowledge of wildlife legislation, ecological best practice and how these apply within the planning system
• Experience of providing technical ecological advice including biodiversity net gain
• Experience of ecological field survey techniques
• The ability to interpret technical reports, legislation and policy and present clear, balanced advice to a range of audiences
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• The ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively
• Experience of dealing with multiple work streams and working to tight deadlines

A full driving licence and the ability to travel throughout the county and undertake site visits, including over rough terrain

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page

Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer.  We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

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You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact:  

Alex Fraser, Ecologist, on 07356 138309 or email Alexandra.Fraser2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or Siobhan Vincent, Technical Skills Team Leader, on 0300 300 4346 or email siobhan.vincent@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Our National Careers Service team offer a free monthly workshop covering CV writing and how to complete the statement sections of the Central Bedfordshire Council online application form. This MS Teams workshop is open to anyone from the UK and lasts around 1.5 hours.   Please book your place here.

More information about this service can be found here: Support getting into work or learning | Central Bedfordshire Council

Your application to us is a reflection of who you are professionally and should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills, experiences and if applicable qualifications. Before you submit your application, we will ask you to confirm if you have used AI.

All new starters will join us on a four‑month probationary period. During this time, if you are offered a Hybrid role you will be required to attend a Central Bedfordshire Council office location more frequently to support thorough and well‑supported onboarding into your role. Please keep this in mind if you anticipate extensive travel to Central Bedfordshire.

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK for the duration of the contract offered.