Senior Planning Ecologist

Come and work for an award-winning organisation!

We are an ambitious and forward-thinking council. We are committed to making Cheltenham a
better place to live and work, enabling communities and businesses to thrive whilst protecting
what is good about our town.

We aim to be an employer of choice where everyone is treated fairly and feels valued and respected. We aim to provide a stimulating and rewarding working environment that encourages our people to work together, provides opportunities for them to reach their full potential and achieve a healthy work/life balance. Working at Cheltenham Borough Council means working as part of a committed, professional, and friendly team.

About the role

Cheltenham Borough Council is a multi-award winning local authority with a strong Place Shaping
role. The Council is increasingly involved directly in regeneration and growth initiatives to
drive economic growth.

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a way of creating and improving natural habitats. BNG makes sure
development has a measurably positive impact on biodiversity, compared to what was there before
development takes place. From February 2024 developers of major schemes (April 2024 for many
other non-major applications) must deliver biodiversity net gain of at least 10% ideally on
site, but other options are available.

Your principal role will be to provide the council’s Development Management team (those that
directly deal with planning applications) with the support and advice that they need to secure
BNG through the planning application process. You will act as consultee on those applications
to which BNG is applicable and provide a range of professional advice including (but not
limited to) the adequacy of submitted BNG metrics, proposed BNG delivery approaches (on
site/off site/others etc.), the BNG Plan as well as the discharge of relevant conditions and
legal obligations.

You will be a solution-focussed individual, proactive in identifying any BNG related issues as
early in the process as feasible and positive/supportive to applicants seeking to find
solutions to those issues wherever possible.

The primary focus of this role is BNG support, which will be your priority, but you will also
be required to provide other/general ecological support as required. This may involve the
review of submitted ecological assessments as well as the review of material submitted to
discharge ecological conditions.

What can we do for you…

• An excellent pension scheme. You will be eligible to join the Local Government Pension
  Scheme (LGPS).
• A generous holiday entitlement of 26 days rising to 31 days after five years. Part-time
  employees receive a pro rata entitlement of 26 days.
• A flexible and agile working environment. We aim to provide opportunities to work from home
  or elsewhere and offer flexibility in working hours.
• A comprehensive programme of learning and development.
• Two days paid time off for volunteering.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity schemes.
• An employee counselling service.
• Free eye tests (for some posts) and contribution towards the cost of glasses.
• A cycle to work scheme.
• Low-cost town centre parking for some jobs, depending on work location.
• A commitment to employee wellbeing.

The council is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, we welcome applications from all
sections of the community. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this
commitment.