Assistant Ecologist

• Employer: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Location: Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, Magdalen House, Court Hey Park
• Contract: Contract
• Working Pattern: Full Time
• Hours: 36 hours per week.
• DBS Check: No
• Closing Date: 26/06/2026 at 23:59
• Reference: REA/26/338893

1x Fixed Term (24 Months)

The Liverpool City Region has a wealth of nature sites and internationally important coasts and estuaries including the Dee, Mersey, Ribble and Alt estuaries and Wirral and Sefton coasts. We are striving to ensure that the very special wildlife thrives in a vibrant and progressive City Region economy.

The Assistant Ecologist (2 year fixed term appointment) will provide essential support to the more experienced members of the ecology team under the supervision of one of our Principal Ecologists and will also provide support to our Local Environmental Record Centre at Court Hey Park. The role will involve planning work, evidence gathering, data and GIS activities amongst other things. The role therefore offers great opportunity for professional development and a clear career development path to more senior roles within the team once sufficient professional experience has been gained.

• Advise on the impact of minor development management casework, on biodiversity, ecology and nature conservation resources on behalf of Local Authorities. Recommend and advise on the acceptability of surveys, method statements, planning conditions, monitoring requirements.
• Be responsible for, co‑ordinate and deliver minor development management casework for ecology as directed by the Principal Ecologist (Nature Recovery) and/or Principal Ecologists and/or Development Manager including Three Test Assessments for European Protected Species.
• Assist with co‑ordination and development of a consistent Merseyside approach to Local Site (wildlife & geological) systems, including survey, monitoring and reporting to Defra as directed by the Principal Ecologist responsible.
• Provide support to the Merseyside Bio Bank (MBB) and MBB Local Environmental Record Centre (LERC) Manager at Court Hey Park including environmental records, data entry, quality assurance, website management at least one day per week and regularly work from that office location.

This role suits someone who is ambitious, motivated and passionate about developing their ecology / planning careers and will play a leading role in driving nature recovery in our City Region.

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role. We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care‑experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.