Biodiversity and Local Nature Recovery Manager

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About the role

To manage and lead the continued development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for North Northamptonshire, and co-ordinate the development of processes to deliver the Council’s responsibilities to ensure a 10% net gain in biodiversity from new developments. The role will be instrumental in developing and delivering nature recovery projects working with local communities, land managers and partner organisations, as well as carrying out monitoring and providing technical advice - playing a key role in conserving the area’s special habitats and species and enabling people to connect with nature.

To ensure the Council complies with statutory duties related to the enhanced biodiversity duty, managing the development and delivery of related policies, strategies and reports to manage land and improve biodiversity. Working across Council directorates including Assets & Environment and Planning Policy reporting directly to the Head of Environment.  

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Liam Faulkner, Head of Environment at liam.faulkner@northnorthants.gov.uk

What will you be doing?

• Lead the implementation, review and continued development of the LNRS for North Northamptonshire.
• Coordinate the Council’s statutory responsibilities for achieving a 10% Biodiversity Net Gain from new developments.
• Deliver nature recovery projects in collaboration with internal teams, external partners, and local communities.
• Provide input, advice and support across Council services, particularly, Assets & Environment, Planning and Building Control.
• Represent the Council at strategic boards and partnerships including the LNRS Oversight Group and Local Nature Partnership.
• Manage budgets, staff, and service development within the Environment Policy team.
• Raise public awareness of biodiversity initiatives and lead funding applications for related projects.

About you

We’re looking for someone with:

• A postgraduate degree in a relevant Environmental or Planning discipline (or equivalent Level 7 qualification).
• Proven experience in conservation, nature recovery, and partnership working.
• Strong knowledge of local government policies, ecological legislation, and biodiversity strategy.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for site visits.

Desirable qualifications include:

• ILM Level 5 Management
• Technical qualifications in ecology or habitat restoration
• Project management experience (PRINCE2 or AGILE)

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)