Biodiversity Planning Support Officer in Matlock

We're looking for a Biodiversity Planning Support Officer to join our Biodiversity Planning Team, helping to deliver expert ecological advice to Local Planning Authorities across Derbyshire. In this varied role, you'll provide both administrative and ecological support to the team, ensuring that databases, records and monitoring systems are accurately maintained and continually developed. Your work will play a key role in enabling our Lead Biodiversity Planning Officers to provide timely, informed responses to planning applications and proposed developments.

By supporting the planning process, you'll help ensure that protected species, important habitats and opportunities for nature recovery are fully considered by planning officers, applicants and developers. This is an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the protection and enhancement of Derbyshire's natural environment.

To succeed in this role, you'll need excellent database management skills, alongside knowledge of ecology and UK wildlife. You'll be interested in developing your understanding of the UK planning system, wildlife legislation and emerging requirements such as Biodiversity Net Gain. We are looking for someone who is highly organised, accurate and methodical, with the ability to work collaboratively as part of a small and supportive team.

What we can offer you:

• Flexible working options, we have adopted a 9-day working fortnight meaning all full time staff get a non-working Friday every fortnight
• 33 days annual leave including bank holidays, we also have a festive shutdown so all staff get the days between Christmas and New Year off in addition to their leave entitlement
• Sustainable Travel Employer (extra leave granted for staff using more green, sustainable transport)
• 9.5% employer pension contribution
• Electric bike and car salary-sacrifice schemes available
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Personalised Development programme designed to enhance your knowledge and progress your career
• A multi-disciplinary business, with opportunities to work on a wide range of projects, developing your experience and skills
• A close-knit, friendly and supportive team, with a relaxed office atmosphere

Our Values

Our work towards a Wilder 2030 is shaped by three core values:

• Collaborative– We work together with colleagues, volunteers and communities because lasting change happens when everyone is involved.
• Curious– We ask questions, explore new ideas and stay open to learning so we can keep improving and adapting for nature.
• Courageous– We take bold action, challenge the status quo and stand up for what wildlife and people need.

If these values feel like you, you’ll thrive here.

About you

This role might be right for you if:

• You have strong communication skills, with the ability to work professionally with a wide range of stakeholders.
• You have excellent organisational skills, able to prioritise and manage a demanding workload effectively.
• You have knowledge of ecology and UK wildlife, and a genuine interest in supporting nature conservation through the planning process.
• You enjoy working as part of a small team and are eager to learn about the planning system, wildlife legislation and how ecological advice influences development decisions.

We are happy to talk flexible working! This role will be based at our office in Middleton although a balance of home and office working will be allowed. We are a local charity so applicants should be easily able to access our office and other locations around the county.

Interviews are planned for 1st September. For more information please refer to the job description and key terms attached. If you have any questions about the role which are not answered in the attached documents, or require adjustments to the application process, please either email recruitment@derbyshirewt.co.uk or call 01773 881188.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and believes that everyone should have access to nature. We expect people to work harmoniously with each other and with volunteers, and to provide help and guidance to others when needed. As a small charity, our employees need to be willing to be flexible about working arrangements and willing to provide occasional cover for absent staff. We want people to develop professionally and personally while working with us and employees are encouraged to participate in the range of opportunities available to enable this.

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunities employer that strives to be a diverse and inclusive environment in which everyone is valued. We welcome applications from eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.