Countryside Officer (GCN District Licensing) in Milton Keynes

We’re recruiting a dedicated Countryside Officer to join our environment and waste service. You’ll play an important role in helping us protect, conserve and enhance our city’s natural spaces, with a focus on supporting the Great Crested Newt District Licensing Scheme. This is an interesting role where you’ll help shape how our natural environment is understood, managed and safeguarded for our communities. At Milton Keynes City Council, we’re dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We work together for the good of our colleagues, our city and our local people. If you want to use your ecological expertise to help make a real difference, this is the role for you.

This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home-based roles require a minimum of one day in the office/site per week. Interviews for this role will be held on 1 May.

Main Responsibilities:

• Provide clear and accurate ecological advice to planning colleagues, helping them understand complex information so that decisions can be made confidently and responsibly.
• Act as the responsible officer for issuing Great Crested Newt licences on behalf of the Local Planning Authority.
• Promote the District Great Crested Newt Licensing Scheme to developers, planners and ecologists, working closely with NatureSpace.
• Help protect and manage our parks, woodlands, wildlife sites, public open spaces, nature reserves and farms so they can be enjoyed by everyone.
• Lead and support environmental management projects, ensuring they are planned, resourced and delivered effectively.
• Identify funding opportunities and develop collaborative partnerships that help us protect and enhance our natural environment.

The Ideal Candidate:

• A degree in ecology or environmental management, and a Natural England Great Crested Newt Class Level One Survey Licence (CL08).
• Strong knowledge of the United Kingdom planning system, ecological impact assessments and biodiversity in planning.
• A clear understanding of protected species legislation, licensing and ecological policy.
• Practical experience of Great Crested Newt survey work using methods such as eDNA testing, bottle trapping, torching and netting.
• Experience of designing or delivering conservation management or mitigation strategies for Great Crested Newts.
• A full driving licence and the ability to travel for work.
• Experience in using mapping software such as QGIS or similar.

To be successful in this role, you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If you’re offered the position, we’ll ask for proof of your licence and vehicle insurance, including business use cover. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to confirm your appointment without these documents.

Package Description:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you.

About The Organisation:

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference. We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.