Senior Natural Environment Officer; Ecology

Opus People Solutions are hiring for a Natural Environment Officer within a Local Authority client based in Northamptonshire. The role is 37 hours per week, offering hybrid working (2 days on-site per week), and £57.50 per day umbrella, with a contract length of 3 months.

• Support the provision of appropriate specialist advice on natural environment issues, with a technical specialism in ecology
• Support the production and maintenance of an up-to-date suite of policy documents to guide and set high standards for future development in the area, including developing, maintaining and reviewing local plans, neighbourhood plans and other planning policy documents
• Support specialist monitoring, research and statistical activities to support the Planning Service
• Make a proactive and positive contribution to the effective delivery of the Planning Service, this will include working flexibly and positively to achieve the objectives of the council
• Support timely responses to customer, MP and Councillor complaints, feedback, FOI and EIR requests to ensure the Planning Service is consistently meeting corporate service standards
• Provide a high standard of timely ecological advice to the development management service and other relevant services across the Council and in the Place Directorate
• Provide appropriate technical advice to the public, developers, agents, Members, other departments of the Council and other persons and bodies as appropriate in connection with development proposals and related matters in writing, by telephone or in person
• Draft advice on ecology or nature conservation matters for the Planning Policy/Planning Committees or other meetings and site visits, as appropriate, including the briefing of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Elected Members

• Experience with ability to communicate and display consistent professional conduct with a wide range of people, in person, by telephone and email including with Senior Management and Councillors
• Specialist IT skills: DEF Master Gov or other planning related system, QGIS or other mapping software, and ERP Gold (or other comparable system)
• Good knowledge of planning legislation and guidance
• Previous experience within Local Government