Thanet is a great place to live and work

Our historic seaside towns of Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs and surrounding villages are rich in heritage and opportunity. With 19 miles of stunning coastline, our beautiful Blue Flag beaches, the internationally renowned Turner Contemporary, and the UK's only Royal Harbour are all just a short train ride from central London thanks to the high-speed rail link. Our proximity to the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel at Folkestone mean Europe is literally on our doorstep too.

All of this, combined with a flexible approach to how we work makes it an exciting time to join Thanet District Council. We have set our sights high. We want our residents to enjoy the highest quality services. We want to ensure that by listening to local people, working in active partnership and doing things in an innovative way, we can accelerate improvement to meet the challenges ahead.

We are looking for a passionate biodiversity officer to join our Strategic Planning Team to ensure the Council is ready for its duties under the Environment Act 2021 in relation to biodiversity net gain. You will be required to lead on the day to day delivery of nature conservation policy including the preparation of a district wide Biodiversity Strategy and advise the council on the biodiversity implications of its activities. You will also contribute to the evidence base and guidance supporting the local plan review.

You should be educated to a degree level or equivalent in ecology, conservation biology, environmental management or any related natural environment discipline. You should have a thorough understanding of legislation, guidance and best practice associated with biodiversity and the natural environment, in particular the new statutory Biodiversity metric, use of UK Habitats Classification and phase 1 habitat survey methodology.

Flexibility is something we really value as an organisation to help accommodate our employees as much as we can. The Council operates a flexible policy of working, you will have the choice of office, hybrid or home working with attendance for meetings as required at the Council offices or other locations, and site work, as required.

If you have what we're looking for and this sounds like a great opportunity for you, we'd love you to join us!

Our staff benefits package include

Flexible working hours to manage your work/life balance. Remote/hybrid working. 22 days annual leave plus 3 concessionary days over Christmas, rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years' service. Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution. Cycle to Work Scheme. Reduced cost leisure membership, including Theatre tickets and sporting activities. An extensive Employee Wellbeing package. A Discount Club. You can save money or earn cashback in a variety of ways including in restaurants and high street shops, when booking holidays or visiting the cinema. Selection Process

Should you be successfully shortlisted, the selection process will consist of an interview, including a short presentation on the key biodiversity priorities for Thanet.

Interview date likely to be mid-February 2024 (tbc).

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Adrian Verrall Strategic Planning Manager (Tel: ).