Environment Officer

Are you passionate about enhancing our natural ecosystems to the local area?

A rare, exciting opportunity to join Forest of Dean District Council as a Environment Officer.
You will be pivotal in providing high quality conservation guidance to enhance sustainable
outcomes, in order to meet our future aim of biosphere reserve status. The clock is ticking on
tackling greener change. Now is the time for action. We are looking for a passionate officer to
propel our biodiversity status, in the ‘race for a sustainable future’ using an innovative and
solutions focused approach.

The role offers the flexibility of working from the offices in Coleford and from home, allowing
you to choose the best option for your work life balance.

Do you have the technical ability and influence to drive sustainable
development?

Our ecology team is fundamental to the success of the council’s aspiration for a sustainable
future, and we are passionate on leading on the climate and ecological emergencies in our area.
From the National Dive Centre at Tidenham to the Five Acres Leisure Centre, our focus is to
enable our communities in the Forest of Dean to thrive, creating great places for people to
live, work, learn and enjoy a safe and sustainable future.

We want our future generations to thrive too and we are serious in tackling issues concerning
climate and environmental emergencies. Now is a fantastic time to be joining us. We are looking
to deliver upon our council priorities and shape our environment for the benefit of the local
area and beyond.

Employed as a Sustainable Environment Research & Development Officer, you will be working
with the heart of local communities and stakeholders, providing high quality and robust
ecological advice relating to our natural ecosystems. From research, policy development, to
partnership collaboration, you will be integral to raising recognition and empowering change to
create sustainable outcomes in line with our environmental aspirations.

Due to the nature of the role, you will need the ability to engage, inform and influence
environmental transformation, across different audiences, with varying levels of knowledge or
awareness. You will also need to be a technical specialist with the ability to turn technical
concepts into straightforward and impactful propositions, whilst harnessing positive change.

You will be working collaboratively, with a variety of vital partners and stakeholders across
the district and beyond, including UNESCO. We have big aspirations to drive change, to obtain
Biosphere Reserve status and you will play a crucial part in delivering this, for our
sustainable future.

You will need

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Ecology, Biology, or a related field. 
• Passionate about environmental sustainability and research.
• Experience in environmental research, biodiversity conservation, or a related field.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in securing and managing research funding and grants.

Special Conditions

• Ability to travel/ access to a vehicle for work purposes

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/ Person Specification.

What can we do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an
  extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of 5% of your earnings
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice
  and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with huge tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Access to digital financial advice (covering your pension scheme, mortgages and other
  finances)
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
• Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five
  years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
• Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary exaggerating 

To apply for this position please click on “apply now” within this page to complete an
application form and supporting statement together with your CV. Please tell us about your
skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and
in the job description/person specification. It’s important that we’re a good fit for each
other, so let us know what’s important to you and why you want to work for Publica Group Ltd.
Your CV will not be available to the hiring manager unless you are shortlisted for interview to
assist with our non-biased screening process so please ensure you complete the application form
in full.

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome
and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black,
Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled
applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies – Please state this within your
covering statement or in a separate email. 

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people
and children. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies.

Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire;
provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’
employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal
record.