Ecologist

The starting salary for this role is £41,585 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and adaptable Ecologist to join the Natural Environment Team at Surrey County Council. You will play an integral role within the Natural Environment team to help deliver the biodiversity duties of the Council.

You will be expected to do some office working (a minimum of two days a week is encouraged) as well as travel to other offices and places within the County for meetings as well as ecology surveys. Some evening and early morning work will be required to carry out ecology surveys.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the Role

You will work closely with colleagues across the Natural Environment team and collaborate with a range of other departments, including Planning, Countryside Estates, Flooding, Highways, and Land and Property.

On a day-to-day basis, the role involves reviewing and providing written consultation responses to planning applications, with a strong focus on compliance with ecological legislation and policy. You will also undertake specialist fieldwork relating to protected species, habitats and designated sites, and prepare technical reports and correspondence to support permitted development projects and planning applications across Surrey County Council.

In addition, you will contribute to the delivery of the council's biodiversity policies, such as Biodiversity Net Gain, and support collaborative and partnership-based working on strategic projects, including initiatives focused on highway verges.

The projects delivered across the Council are wide-ranging and diverse, spanning natural flood alleviation and nature-based solutions, improvements to biodiversity along highway verges, and the assessment of council-owned land for Biodiversity Net Gain habitat banking and wider nature recovery initiatives. With ecology legislation and policy evolving rapidly, this role offers a valuable opportunity to ensure that the natural environment remains firmly embedded within decision-making processes across the organisation.

Shortlisting Criteria

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills:

• Degree/HNC or equivalent in a relevant subject Graduate or Associate membership of CIEEM (or eligibility to apply immediately)
• At least 2-3 years relevant experience in a full time ecology role or environmental profession
• Good working knowledge and application of biodiversity legislation and planning policy in Surrey and England
• Experience with a wide range of surveys for protected species.
• Excellent report writing skills with ability to adapt written style to suit different audiences / purposes.
• Confident with assessing ecological impacts and applying the mitigation hierarchy
• Good IT skills including use of MS office (Word, Excel, database management systems, PowerPoint).

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

1. Describe your understanding of the relationship between planning policy and wildlife legislation and how it can impact decisions for both developers and planning authorities.
2. Describe a time where you have had to liaise with multiple stakeholders on a piece of work and how you ensured good communication with all relevant parties.
3. Please give three examples of survey work you have carried out, describing how your methods aligned with best practice and how the results affected the outcome for your project or client.
4. How would ensure your work in this role is contributing to the SCC's wider ambitions in relation to nature recovery and biodiversity?

It is a requirement for the applicant to have access to their own vehicle and a clean driving licence.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 24/05/2026 with interviews to follow.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents!

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.