Head of Ecology in Telford

AgRecruit are partnering with Biofarm in London, UK to appoint a Head of Ecology. Please contact Sam Clayton at AgRecruit directly for enquiries (sam.clayton@agrecruit-ltd.com).

BNG for those who need it, long term value for those who provide it.

Join a dynamic company at the forefront of the BNG movement; where your ideas matter, your growth is championed, and your work drives meaningful impact for nature. Thisis more than a job; it\'s a unique opportunity to define your career while shaping the future of our planet.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of Ecology to join our entrepreneurial, London based team and to help service a growing workload. The successful candidate will play a key role in establishing habitat banks and managing and overseeing the ecology team, with a particular focus on Biodiversity Net Gain. This position requires a minimum of 10 years’ field experience and an understanding of biodiversity net gain legislation, the Statutory Metric, policies, and best practices, as well as the proven ability to lead a team and liaise with government bodies such as DEFRA, Natural England, and Local Planning Authorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading the Ecology team ensuring key deadlines and milestones are met in a timely manner.
• Reporting on progress to the senior team and Board.
• Drafting and presenting detailed reportsincluding Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans, Biodiversity Gain Plans, presentations, and proposals to clients, regulatory bodies, and community groups as required.
• Leading the team of in-house ecologists to develop and implement Biodiversity Net Gain strategies and action plans in accordance with relevant legislation, metrics, policies, and guidelines.
• Providing a high level of technical expertise and support including oversight and mentoring of habitat surveys and protected species assessments for BNG plans.
• Liaising with government bodies, including DEFRA and Natural England, to ensure compliance with biodiversity regulations and secure necessary permits or approvals.
• Leading the company’s ecological expansion into alternative Natural Capital markets.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Member of CIEEM.
• Circa 10 or more years\' of field experience in Ecology and leadership roles.
• Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in Ecology, or a related field.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to diverse audiences effectively.
• Strong botanical knowledge with the ability to do standardised and replicable quadrat and transect surveys.
• Knowledge of biodiversity legislation, policies, and guidelines, including relevant national and local planning policies.
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking preliminary ecological appraisals(i.e. Phase 1 habitat surveys and protected species assessments).
• Experience in preparing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) plans.
• Strong understanding of ecological principles and methodologies, including habitat assessment and ecological impact assessment.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and operate under pressure to ensure that key milestones are achieved.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a progressive, pragmatic approach and experience to assess the impact of BNG within a planning context.
• Proficiency in relevant software and tools used in planning and biodiversity assessment, such as the Statutory Metric, GIS, ecological modelling software, and Microsoft Office Suite.