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.