Ecology and Biodiversity Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, self-motivated biodiversity specialist. This is a full-time, permanent role with hybrid working. We are seeking an experienced Ecology and Biodiversity Officer who understands the planning system and can demonstrate an excellent knowledge of ecological management and mitigation.

The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a densely built-up inner London borough. It nevertheless supports a surprising diversity of wild plants and animals in a range of habitats. These include protected species such as bats and the Black Redstart, and a number of rare invertebrates associated with brownfield land, such as the Brown-banded Carder Bee and Streaked Bombardier Beetle. There are two Local Nature Reserves in the borough at Mudchute and Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park. Both of these are also recognised as Sites of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, along with Mile End Park, the River Thames, the River Lea and the canals. The east of the borough lies within the Lea Catchment Nature Improvement Area.

The Role:

Working within our Sustainable Development Team in the Housing and Regeneration Directorate, and alongside our Environment, Parks and Planning Teams, you will act as a consultee on biodiversity matters across the borough to the planning process to ensure applications are in compliance with the legislation, national and local policy, with regards to ecology.

An engaging communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills including the ability to clearly communicate technical/complex concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.

You will be responsible for:

In collaboration with others, you will lead on the delivery of biodiversity initiatives and provide expert advice across the borough. You will have experience in a related role with knowledge of local biodiversity action plans, biodiversity net gain regulations and other environmental legislation.

With a degree or post-graduate degree in an Ecology / Biodiversity related discipline, you should be able to demonstrate significant experience in project management, site surveying and community engagement.

The role requires wide-spread engagement across the borough with key activities including:

• Providing professional ecological advice and guidance to planning officers, councillors, developers and other stakeholders regarding the assessment, impact and mitigation of development on biodiversity and protected species, particularly with regards to planning applications, development proposals and local planning policy.
• Lead development of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and work closely with partner organisations to deliver species and habitat priorities.
• Act as a consultee on biodiversity matters across the borough in the planning process with experience of Biodiversity Net Gain in development.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of ecology and biodiversity strategies, projects and programmes.
• Identify and bring forward new projects which contribute to long-term biodiversity and protection and enhancement alongside climate mitigation and adaptation priorities.

Closing date: 1 August 2025

Tower Hamlets vision for our borough is that: people are aspirational, independent and have equal access to opportunities; we are a borough that our residents are proud of and love to live in; and we are a dynamic, outcomes-based council using digital innovation and partnership working to respond to the changing needs of our borough. We want people who aspire to our TOWER values: Together; Open; Willing; Excellent; Respect.

Tower Hamlets has a zero-tolerance approach to, and works to eradicate, all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, status as a civil partner, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and maternity and looks to employ a diverse workforce representative of those groups. We recognise that people can also be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class.

We welcome applicants interested in flexible working arrangements and also applicants who live in the borough.