The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is looking to increase the number of ecologists on its books.
A competition is open until 4:00pm of next Monday (February 8). The successful candidates may be assigned to any department divisions, but the bulk of new ecologists will be appointed to divisions dealing with forestry and the environment, the department said.
The assessment of forestry licence and scheme applications will form part of the work. Ecologists may also be required to carry out on-site inspections for proposed agricultural and forestry activities to assess biodiversity and ecological factors.
They will also be required to provide “specialised” biodiversity advice.
Other duties will include preparing and delivering internal and external training courses; and supervising, training and managing staff.
The candidates for the role must hold a primary degree qualification at Level 8 (that is acceptable to the department) in one of the following areas: botany; zoology; ecology; environmental science; wildlife biology; or wildlife science.
The candidate also will require at least 18 months “satisfactory work experience” as a professional ecologist, including assessing and evaluating biodiversity issues.
Applicants “should have all the attributes of an ecologist and in particular they must demonstrate…that they possess or have the capacity to acquire the qualities, skills and knowledge required for the role”, the department notes.