Ecologist - Biodiversity
The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Bellingham or Grizedale
Job Reference forestryengland/TP/7583/696
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term Appointment
Working Hours: 37
Location: Bellingham or Grizedale
Closing Date: 02/08/2026
Job Category: Operations
Region: North
Business Unit: North
Job IntroductionWe are Forestry England.
We live and breathe forests.
Job title - Ecologist - Biodiversity
Salary- £33,854 per annum
Contract type - Fixed Term Appointment until end of March 2029, with the possibility of extension or permanency
Vacancy closes - 2nd August, 23:58
Join us. We're foresters, professionals and experts. We are a passionate team who love to share our enthusiasm and want to make a positive difference for you and the environment.
Together, we're using our scale and expertise to grow the nation's forests for everyone. We're already adapting our landscapes for tomorrow, and getting stuff done today, like creating amazing places and experiences for you to enjoy. We're providing vital homes for wildlife, making our air cleaner to breathe and producing sustainable timber.
What you'll do
Our vision is that the nation's forests will provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England. The Biodiversity Ecologist will play a key role in the delivery of that vision by inspiring others to support our work for nature. A key responsibility of the job is the maintenance and enhancement of SSSI condition through the creation and implementation of management plans. The postholder will also focus on the conservation of important protected habitats and species through Defra funded projects. The role will provide ecological advice to ensure species, habitats and designated sites are managed in accordance with wildlife legislation, policy and best practice guidance when implementing these projects. The postholder will also assist in the restoration of ancient woodland and connectivity across the District through supporting operational teams.
Where you'll work
The post can be based at our Bellingham office, Hexham, Northumberland, or Grizedale, Cumbria with blended working opportunities.
Benefits
- 25 days holiday a year, raising by one day every year's service, up to 30 days (pro-rated for part time employees) plus additional days off such as bank holidays.
- STaRis employee benefits scheme offering discounts on everyday supermarket shopping, as well as other items such as hotel stays, clothes, mobile phones, other electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills, Headspace wellbeing app.
- Free parking at Forestry England sites and free entry to our National Arboretums at Westonbirt and Bedgebury.
- A commitment to lifelong learning through career development. Forestry England will support your career development in a variety of ways, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.
The post is funded by DEFRA; subject to government spending reviews. Funding may change. In case of changes, we will prioritize retaining staff posts wherever possible.
Within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, applicants must have the ability to provide conversation in accurate spoken English.
Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). Candidates with disabilities who meet selection criteria are guaranteed an interview. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to current civil servants at risk of redundancy, and who meet minimum requirements. The role is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative.
Our recruitment process makes appointments based on fair and open competition and merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in line with the principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email: .
Read more about nationality requirements here.