Conservation Ecologist (Future Nature Wildlife Trust Consultancy)

We have an exciting opportunity for you to make a difference as our Conservation Ecologist at Future Nature, the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)’s consultancy.  All profits from your work in Future Nature will be reinvested back into BBOWT, to help fund their invaluable work in countryside and communities. 

You’ll play a crucial role in supporting Future Nature’s goal to create new and enhance existing habitats, and see nature designed within a variety of landholdings including (but not limited to) farms, large estates, science/business parks, public green spaces, university/college grounds, and development sites where appropriate and sustainable.

What you’ll be doing

• Using field survey and identification skills to assess the baseline value of a site and to identify opportunities for biodiversity enhancement
• Organise, coordinate, and deliver a range of habitat surveys, both independently and in a team
• Using technical knowledge to analyse and interpret the results of surveys
• Use evidence to develop and design suitable mitigation and enhancement strategies, with the support of more senior colleagues, and make detailed recommendations for practical land management and monitoring as a contribution to projects

What we’re looking for

• Minimum of 1 year of experience in land management, nature conservation, Ecological consultancy, or similar with experience of practical field survey work
• Knowledge of typical habitats found within Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire,
• Proven ability to identify appropriate habitat management and/or monitoring techniques for a range of habitats and communicate them effectively to various audiences
• Broad knowledge of UK fauna and flora, with good identification skills
• Able to produce high quality, accurate and well-written technical reports, proposals and assessments.

Salary: £31,000 - £32,255 per annum (for 37.5 hours)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Flexibility in working pattern, in agreement with line manager.  Part time considered for outstanding candidate.

Based: Oxford with hybrid working

For all your hard work you can expect a great rewards package in return. In addition to being part of a friendly, skilled and knowledgeable team, passionate about making a difference, when you work for us, you’ll also receive

• Generous annual leave entitlement with paid birthday leave, wellbeing days, urgent personal business leave and generous occupational sick pay
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and family-friendly policies
• Flexible working to achieve work-life balance
• Salary exchange pension with generous employer contribution
• Learning & Development Programme for all
• Wellbeing initiatives including qualified Mental Health First Aiders, YuLife benefit package - access to our EAP, providing you with immediate and confidential help for any work, health, or life matters; 3x life assurance, online GP access prescription service, a variety of discounts
• Salary sacrifice Cycle scheme & Electric Vehicle scheme
• Membership to BBOWT’s, and The Wildlife Trusts’, Staff Network Groups for social interaction, peer support, mentoring and personal development

How to apply

For full details, please read the job description and T&Cs below. To apply, please follow the application link.

The closing time and date for applications is 11.59pm on Wednesday 17^th July 2024. Interviews will take place online on Tuesday 23^rd July 2024.

BBOWT values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We want every candidate to have the best chance of success as part of this process. In order to do this, we know that some candidates will need reasonable adjustments. Contact us on recruitment@bbowt.org.uk if there are any reasonable adjustments we can provide during the recruitment process, including completing your application.

When applying for the role you can expect to answer a few questions online relating to the skills required and what you would be doing in the role. Your responses will be anonymised, randomised, and scored by a panel of reviewers. 

We don't use an application form, or CVs - your answers to our situational based questions will be scored against a review guide and scores from these will decide which candidates go through to the interview stage. See here to find out why we do this.

Whilst we appreciate ChatGPT and other AI platforms can answer these questions, we know what they have to say (and generally the answer they generate isn't great). We want to hear your perspective written in your own words. If it is clear that any of your answers are not your own work, we reserve the right to reject your application on that basis. 

You’ll also be asked for information about your background, anything you feel comfortable sharing will be anonymised and will not be shared as part of the selection process, it will only be used to help us understand how we are performing against our equal opportunities metrics. All candidates will receive feedback on their application.

We want our people to be as diverse as nature, so we particularly encourage applications from people who are underserved within the communities in which we operate. This includes people from visible ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities (including those who are neurodivergent), the LGBTQ+ community, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and younger people. We are committed to creating an organisation that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.