Ecologist

Base pay range

Salary: 33,677 £ + 390 £ per month Car Cash allowance

Currently we have an opportunity for an experienced Ecologist to join our Environment Team West Midlands within the Operations Directorate. The Ecologist will cover the West Midlands region.

The Environment Team supports the trust as a whole, while conserving and seeking to enhance the environment of the inland waterway network. Working with the Environment Manager West Midlands and a team of ecologists and environmental scientists, you will provide professional technical support on ecological issues to multi‑disciplinary teams including area operations, asset engineers, geotechnical specialists, project managers, contract managers, contractors, community engagement managers, fundraisers and the communications team.

This is to ensure compliance on all areas of work conducted by the trust and delivery of the trust’s strategy and policy. The work will include undertaking habitat and species surveys, and advising on good practice, nature recovery, and biodiversity net gain.

The Canal & River Trust is a large landowner with blue and green corridors, providing opportunities to work with volunteers and contractors and stakeholders across the landscape, to carry out environmental enhancements and support biodiversity. This can help reconnect people with nature on their doorstep, as well as offering them opportunities to get involved.

The role will be home‑based, with the expectation to undertake field work and attend the main regional hub in Birmingham for collaborative working. This is a regional role, requiring travel mostly within the West Midlands region, with occasional travel across the canal network in other regions. The successful candidate must be able to travel to attend meetings or field work throughout the region.

• Provide expert ecological support and advice across a range of trust activities in the West Midlands region to ensure regulatory compliance and best practice wherever possible.
• Liaise with colleagues involved in designing, commissioning and delivering works to ensure that relevant environmental processes are understood and implemented.
• Liaise with external regulators and stakeholders at local and regional level in relation to ecology and habitat management.
• Facilitate implementation of the trust's Environmental Management System and Standards.
• Carry out ecological surveys to inform works.
• Create habitat improvement plans and method statements to inform works delivery.
• Create site management plans for the designated sites owned by C&RT.
• Provide technical advice to volunteer groups and/or work with trust volunteer leaders in delivery of objectives, ensuring an engaging experience for participants.
• Deliver awareness training, toolbox talks and facilitate practical training for trust colleagues, contractors, volunteers and stakeholder groups.
• Record environmental incidents, working with colleagues to respond to and manage any actions/issues.
• Attend site meetings with volunteer leaders and contractors to inform works.
• Carry out site monitoring during and after habitat restoration works to audit the works and implement mitigation as necessary.
• Adhere to UK statutory environmental policies and internal trust environmental procedures.
• Contribute to delivering local and national promotional materials.
• Schedule works within tight timescales and seasonal limitations.
• Adhere to reporting requirements of funders and internally within the trust.
• Manage work in accordance with the trust’s Health and Safety policy and defined standards to ensure compliance.
• Display the trust values and behaviours at all times.
• Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into all aspects of trust life and promote inclusion by challenging behaviour, practices, actions, or decisions that are counter to the objectives of the trust’s policies and values.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. Consider your own…