About the job

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?    

  

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.    

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes: 

  

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive 
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change 

• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods 
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature 
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing 

  

We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment. 

  

Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england 

 

 

  

The Team 

This post will sit in the nutrient mitigation project team, in Strategy and Government Advice (SGA). SGA advises government on the development of its environmental policy relevant to our remit; develops and delivers new programmes and pilots for the government to support major strategies such as the 25 Year Plan; leads stakeholder relationships with key national level partners; and develops internal standards and guidance on novel issues. 

The nutrient mitigation scheme (NMS) is an exciting new and expanding team. The team enables housing developers to buy credits to mitigate their impact on waterways. The payments from developers fund a variety of environmental measures to improve nutrient levels in our waterways.  

The credit scheme launched in the Tees catchment in March 2023. The nutrient mitigation project team are now working to roll out this credit scheme in catchments across England where the impacts of excess nutrients are greatest.    

This post is located in the Service Operations part of the team and focusses on the functional oversight of the credit scheme, developing and maintaining good customer relations with housing developers and working to improve our digital system with our external provider.  

 

Job description 

  

You will manage the digital process of designing and running a service throughout its entire product life cycle. You will implement best practice in new product or service development and plan and put into operation the stages of new product or service development. You will have experience of overcoming operational constraints to deliver a successful product or service. 

  

 You will work with the NMS team to identify the requirements to evolve the digital service which supports the positive customer experience of those applying and delivering NMS.  The role holder will need to work closely with their strategy colleagues to help support and shape the future of the scheme. 

  

We are looking for an individual that can work in a fast-paced environment with competing demands.  Has the ability to take ownership of problems to find solutions.  Can support the delivery team in answering questions and queries from customers and Natural England colleagues.  Has the confidence to spot opportunities for improvements and develop solutions.   

  

Experience with digital service development would be an advantage and understanding scheme delivery desirable although we see an ambitious individual, with a willingness to learn, in this area as more important.  You will be supported in your role by your Team leader, Delivery Team manager and Digital product owner.  There are regular opportunities to learn and develop to thrive in the role.    

  

  
You will work directly to the Delivery Team Manager and have daily contact with a digital delivery lead, product and project manager and NMS strategy and delivery colleagues.   

  

  

This is an exciting role that will give you the opportunity to work in a high-profile project in Natural England that is at the forefront of government agenda.  

  

  

   

Key tasks/ accountabilities  

  

• Lead the delivery team members so they are clear on the team’s objectives and their own, this could be through direct or functional management.   
• Take the NMS vision, objectives and outcomes to prioritise the delivery teams activities.  Be able to focus on and communicate those to the NMS team.   
• Supported by the Delivery team manager shape the direction of the NMS digital service.   
• Be able to articulate the projects requirements to the digital team to enable the digital service to be developed.   
• Lead in the governance of the NMS team and digital team.  Ensuring project governance is adhered to and providing a point of escalation for the delivery team.   

• Document and communicate the benefits and performance of the service to management team.   
• Be responsible for the successful operation and continuous improvement of the delivery team and service to customers. 
• Liaise and maintain positive communication with other Natural England teams, Defra and DLUHC and external digital suppliers to support continuous improvement.  
• Ensure best practice approaches are shared and embedded within the team. 
• Coordinate and manage user acceptance testing for the NMS digital service and provide a report to the Delivery team manager.  

   

Benefits 

  

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing. 

  

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer. 

  

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us. 

  

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events. 

  

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated. 

  

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan. 

  

Locations 

  

Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week.  
   
Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office. 

  

National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area. 

  

View a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations 

  

Pay 

  

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.   

  

How to Apply 

  

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview. 

  

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. 

  

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:  

  

• Technical Skills and Knowledge 
• Personal Effectiveness 
• Work Delivery 
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment 

  

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your doing so. 

  

Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.  Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency. 

  

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all four competencies as set out in the Job Description. 

  

Successful candidates will be allocated roles in merit order based on scores achieved at interview and in accordance with location preferences, taking into account the work area to which successful candidates are most suited, wherever possible. 

Competencies

 

Competence 1   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Technical Skills and Knowledge

 

Description  

Agile working. You ensure that the team knows what each other is working on and how this relates to project objectives and user needs. You can coach and lead teams determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project. You can think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes. (Essential)

Problem management. You can anticipate problems and defend against them at the right time. You can understand how the problem fits into the larger picture. You can articulate the problem and identify the appropriate solution. (Essential)

Product ownership. You can define the minimum viable product (MVP) and make decisions about priorities. (Essential)

 

Competence 2   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Personal Effectiveness

 

Description   

Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act (Practitioner)

Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Practitioner)

Assess the impact and effectiveness of communication; review achievement of objectives; identify lessons learnt and share feedback (Expert)

 

Competence 3   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Work Delivery

 

Description   

Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert)

Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures (Practitioner)

Systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders to ensure all those impacted are engaged (Practitioner)

 

Competence 4   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Putting people at the heart of the environment

 

Description   

Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and your organisation. (Practitioner)

Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver your organisation’s vision, mission and aims (Practitioner)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,736, Natural England contributes £9,142 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.