Principal Planning Ecologist

Wildlife is in freefall. The climate is in crisis. Business as usual is not enough.

Principal Planning Ecologist
Salary: Starting in the region of £39,040 per annum, plus up to 7.5% employer pension contribution
Salary band: Rank 2 (£39,040 – £44,689 per annum)
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Full time
Location: Bickley Hall Farm, Malpas, SY14 8EF – Hybrid Working

About us

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is the region’s leading independent wildlife charity working across Cheshire, Halton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wirral for over 60 years.

Wildlife is in decline and the climate crisis is accelerating — but change is possible. At Cheshire Wildlife Trust, we’re working towards a bold vision: by 2030, nature is in recovery and more people are taking action for wildlife.

About you and the role

If you are a senior or principal ecologist, planning ecologist or environmental specialist with serious technical credibility, you probably know the drill: another site visit, another mitigation plan, another report explaining how to make the destruction slightly less awful. Maybe you are tired of being miles from home, stuck on the road, or pouring your expertise into places already marked for loss.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is looking for a confident Principal Planning Ecologist to help fight for a Wilder Cheshire. You’ll be the informed ecological voice behind our advocacy work: analysing planning, policy and infrastructure proposals, exposing risks to nature and turning complex evidence into clear, powerful action.

You’ll produce bold consultation responses, briefings and technical reports; support campaigns with rock-solid science and policy firepower. You will work with planners, regulators, experts and partners to push for nature-positive outcomes. From Biodiversity Net Gain to Environmental Impact Assessments and Local Nature Recovery Strategies, you’ll help make sure wildlife is not ignored when big decisions are made.

We need strategic thinking, ecological expertise, fearless communication and the courage to hold decision makers to account.

If you can defend nature with facts, energy and clarity, this is your call to arms.

In return, you will join an agile, flexible and friendly organisation with generous benefits, flexible working options and colleagues who are passionate about bringing wildlife back.

At Cheshire Wildlife Trust we embrace agile working with a focus on supporting you to achieve your objectives alongside a healthy work-life balance. We operate a hybrid working policy with most staff working at least part of the week from home and/or out on site.

Closing date: Sunday 4 October 2026

Join us. Challenge the system. Back the wild.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the ‘Find out more & apply’ button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

You may be required to carry out a DBS check for this role.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Sorry, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position

No agencies please.