Area Ecologist

Job Introduction

Area Ecologist

Salary: £30,105 per annum

Contract: 3 year fixed term appointment with possibility of extension or permanency

Closing date: 12/07/2026

Location: Mortimer Forest Office, Whitcliffe, Ludlow, Shropshire

Responsibilities

Our vision is that the nation's forests will provide the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England. Our Area Ecologists play a key role in the delivery of that vision by providing ecological advice and inspiring others to support our work for nature. The postholder will provide ecological advice to operational teams to ensure species, habitats and designated sites are managed in accordance with wildlife legislation, policy and best practice guidance. The postholder will also carry out monitoring of a range of habitats and species and support our planning and recreation teams in decision making.

This role reports to the District Ecologist and will be based from the Mortimer Office near Ludlow.

Where you'll work

Mortimer Forest Office:
Whitcliffe, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 2HD

Benefits

• 25 days holiday a year, increasing by one day each 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, hotel stays, clothing, mobile phones, electrical items, medical and car insurance, holidays, gym discounts, household bills and 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, including continual professional development, support for individual learning plans and sponsored membership of professional bodies.
• 28.97% contribution towards a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

Employment and Equality

Forestry England is part of the Civil Service. The Civil Service has a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and a Redeployment Interview Scheme for current civil servants at risk of redundancy. The role is part of Great Place to Work for Veterans and Prison Leaver Recruitment initiative. Applicants must have the ability to provide discussion in accurate spoken English. Applicants are entitled to fair and open competition and merit as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.