An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Biodiversity Officer in our Ecology Service

Sheffield boasts a breadth of treasured green and blue space across diverse landscapes, many of which are owned and managed by Sheffield City Council.

Sheffield Council is passionate about embedding a holistic response to the nature and climate emergencies, ensuring that the city maximises opportunities for nature recovery through our own work and with partners

The Ecology Service provides advice to internal colleagues and external partners and local groups who manage and improve these green and blue spaces. The Service also provides professional ecological advice (including through sub-contractors) to internal departments including Planning, Capital Delivery Service and Property Maintenance and Repairs in line with ecological legislation and our Biodiversity Duty. The Service also hosts the Biological Record Centre and coordinates the Sheffield Local Wildlife Site Partnership and works with partners on project development and delivery. The Service is responsible for reporting internally and externally on biodiversity activities as well as contributing to a robust evidence base to inform decision making and our contributions to nature recovery.

As well as having excellent ecological knowledge, an ideal candidate would know how to assess, reduce, mitigate and compensate for the impacts of development on wildlife and have a strong understanding of key legislation and how to take this through to advise on best practice land management and species protection and recovery. We are also looking for someone with a passion for nature recovery.

To carry out this role you will be highly organised, able to multitask and work well with internal colleagues, sub-contractors and external stakeholders.

Location – Norfolk Park and various sites across the city

For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Ecology Manager Nicky Rivers nicky.rivers@sheffield.gov.uk

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.