Job Description

Salary

Grade 11 (44,043 to 47,999 pa) plus essential car user allowance

Contractual hours

37

Basis

Full time

Region

South

Job category/type

Environment, Planning

Date posted

29/01/2026

Job reference

002243

About the Role

We're looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Principal Ecologist to join our Development Management team and help drive nature recovery across the borough.

Maidstone Borough Council declared a Biodiversity and Climate Emergency in 2019 and has since adopted ambitious goals, including a 20% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirement for new development and a refreshed Biodiversity Action Plan (2025).

In this role, you will:
Provide expert ecological advice on planning applications, ensuring developments maximise opportunities for enhancement and mitigation. Work closely with planners to secure positive outcomes for biodiversity through planning conditions. Support the council's duties to protect and enhance biodiversity across all functions, contributing to strategic policy and nature recovery priorities aligned with the emerging Kent & Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Lead the implementation and delivery of BNG across the borough.

We're seeking someone dynamic and collaborative--comfortable negotiating, problem-solving, and working with partners, developers, and internal teams to deliver sustainable habitat networks and improved ecological resilience.

Contract:

Full-time, permanent

Hours:

37 per week, Monday to Friday

About You:

You are a proactive and dynamic individual with a passion for nature recovery and climate action.As a qualified Ecologist, with a degree in ecology, environmental science or a related discipline (or equivalent), you will be able to demonstrate experience in ecological planning, biodiversity management, and/or habitat restoration.

You have a developed understanding of the local authority and UK planning context in relation to biodiversity, including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). A relevant postgraduate qualification and CIEEM membership will be considered positively.



You have excellent communication skills and can evidence the ability to prepare and present advice and reports to a variety of audiences. You have worked effectively with stakeholders to present information and collaborated to deliver successful and complex project outcomes.



You are informed in respect of the requirements of local authorities by virtue of the Environment Act 2021 and have an understanding of ecosystem services and the principles of nature recovery.



Experience in developing and managing habitat banks or similar initiatives would be considered an advantage.



A full UK driving licence is essential.

About Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone is situated in the heart of Kent and is the county town. The urban centre has a strong commercial and retail base with good transport links but is set in a generally rural area, which includes the Kent Downs and the Kent Low Weald AONBs. The borough is fortunate to benefit from a diverse and valued heritage with 41 Conservation Areas, over 2000 Listed Buildings, 28 Scheduled Monuments and 15 historic parks and gardens. In recent years Maidstone has experienced unprecedented growth and we are in a great position to shape this growth with a genuine commitment to respecting the character and heritage of the borough and achieving high quality design.



Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.



We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.



At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

Our Offer:

A range of benefits including:
Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave. Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year. Free parking Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people's home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time. Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family. Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS) Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax. Annual flu vaccine Cycle to work scheme Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals A professional fee payment, if required for the role

Selection Process:

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview. As part of the interview process, you will be required to give a short presentation to the panel, using powerpoint slides.



Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.



This post is considered to require political sensitivity and the councils' Politically Restricted Posts Policy applies. If you would like further information on this, please contact us at hrsupportteam@midkent.gov.uk.



If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Anna Stevens, Heritage, Landscape and Trees Team Leader, at AnnaStevens@maidstone.gov.uk

and Person Specification

Interview Date: W/C 16th March 2026