Freelance Senior / Principal Ecologist – Local Planning Authority

Location: Lancashire (Remote Working)
Contract: Initial 6 Months
Hours: 28–36 Hours per Week
Rate: Competitive Day Rate (Dependent on Experience)
Working Arrangements: Fully Remote with Optional Office Attendance

About the Opportunity

Embankment Group is currently recruiting for an experienced Freelance Senior or Principal Ecologist to support a Local Planning Authority in West Lancashire on an initial 6-month contract.

The Council is seeking additional ecological expertise within its Development Management team to assist with a backlog of planning applications and associated ecological consultations.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ecologist with a strong background in planning, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and protected species legislation to provide specialist advice on a varied caseload of development proposals.

The position offers fully remote working, with optional office attendance, and requires someone who can work independently with minimal supervision.

Key Responsibilities

• Review planning applications and supporting ecological documentation, including Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs) and protected species surveys.

• Assess Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) submissions, statutory biodiversity metric calculations, habitat plans and monitoring proposals.

• Provide professional ecological advice to planning officers on protected species, habitats, designated sites and relevant planning legislation.

• Prepare written consultation responses and recommend appropriate planning conditions, informatives and biodiversity-related planning obligations.

• Undertake Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) for relevant development proposals.

• Liaise with applicants, ecological consultants and planning officers to resolve ecological issues.

• Support the discharge of planning conditions relating to ecology and biodiversity.

• Assist with managing planning application caseloads, ranging from minor developments to major residential and commercial schemes.

About You

The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:

• Significant experience operating at Senior or Principal Ecologist level, or equivalent.

• Previous experience providing ecological advice within a Local Planning Authority or planning consultancy environment.

• Strong knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements and the statutory biodiversity metric.

• Thorough understanding of protected species legislation, designated sites and relevant planning policies.

• Experience reviewing technical ecological reports and providing clear, proportionate planning recommendations.

• Experience undertaking Habitats Regulations Assessments.

• Degree in Ecology, Environmental Science or a related discipline.

• CIEEM membership or eligibility for membership.

• Ability to manage workloads independently with minimal supervision.

Contract Details

• Location: Lancashire

• Contract Length: Initial 6 months

• Working Hours: 28–36 hours per week

• Working Arrangements: Fully remote, with optional office attendance

• Day Rate: Negotiable depending on experience

• Start Date: Approximately 6–8 weeks, subject to onboarding arrangements

Apply Now

If you're an experienced Freelance Senior or Principal Ecologist with a background in development management and ecological planning advice, we'd be keen to hear from you.

Please submit your latest CV, availability and expected day rate to Embankment Group to discuss the opportunity further.