About the job

Job summary

This position can be based at Exeter or Truro  

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 advisor 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

Job description  

As the freshwater agenda continues to grow within Natural England we are looking for a Lead Adviser to further develop freshwater delivery across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. If you want to be a part of a team recovering nature, restoring natural functionality and improving our freshwater environment, there is no better place to do it.

Our freshwater work covers a huge range of unique habitats from the SAC rivers Camel and Axe to the internationally important peatlands of Dartmoor, Bodmin and the Mid-Cornwall Moors and the river valleys and rias with a diverse assemblage of migratory fish including Atlantic salmon, Allis shad and European smelt. Our protected sites also include the unique coastal lagoons of Slapton Ley, Loe Pool and Marazion Marsh. The work is diverse and there is huge opportunity to be part of a range of exciting projects, from Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) condition assessments, hydrological restoration projects, species recovery plans, and water resource modelling. The variety of work will allow you to put your skills to best use in areas where you can excel and get the best outcomes for freshwater habitats and species.

The role will be supporting our small freshwater team whilst working closely with advisers across Natural England teams, the Environment Agency and the Water Companies. It is expected that candidates will need a good understanding and experience of freshwater issues, however it’s recognised that expertise will be further developed as part of the role.

The successful applicant should be knowledgeable in one or more of the following:  freshwater ecology, hydrogeomorphology, water quality and/or resources and how the protected sites system works. Full and on-going training will be offered as part of the role.

The successful candidates will be expected to travel to work with key customers across the areas.

Key Tasks:

• Work across the area team to ensure that freshwater delivery is fully embedded and supported across the relevant priorities. Work with all teams across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to maximise environmental delivery.
• Fully support the monitoring of freshwater features on protected sites, including field survey and data analysis of a range of species and habitats, that are reliant on high quality physical and chemical elements such as hydrological regimes and nutrient inputs.
• Deliver technical advice / input on freshwater casework including hydrogeological advice, water quality and water resource issues arising from statutory consultations.
• Work with our external partners closely, such as the water companies and the Environment Agency to deliver the best environmental outcomes either in specific locations or via regional plans. Collaborative working and negotiating a suitable solution for all parties is fundamental to the role.
• Work closely with team members providing technical freshwater expertise to support delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies, SSSI restoration, Priority Place objectives and species recovery.
• Provide support where necessary to relevant Rivers Trusts, Catchment Based Approach partnership groups and other non-statutory partners to support delivery of Natural England’s vision.

Competencies

 

Competence 1   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Technical Skills & Knowledge

 

Description   

• Understand and apply the relevant environmental legislation to your work (Essential)
  
  • Ability to identify how land interacts with the surrounding landscape and habitats e.g. soil health and hydrological linkages and how proposals can impact protected features for example through source, receptor, pathway approaches (Essential)
  
  • Ability to identify how proposals can contribute to environmental opportunities to enhance natural capital and deliver biodiversity net gain (Essential)
  
  • Recognise, identify and interpret environmental features such as priority habitats and SSSI features and understand and advise on appropriate management techniques to maintain or enhance the condition of a SSSI or international site (Essential)
  
  • Understand and apply relevant water legislation, policy and governance frameworks to your work, this includes an understanding of how it links to the aims, outcomes and priority actions in the focus areas (Essential)

 

Competence 2   

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 the organisation you represent (Practitioner)
  • Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature (Practitioner)

 

Competence 3   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Personal Effectiveness

 

Description   

• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and whole organisation and inspire others to act (Practitioner)
  • Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Practitioner)

 

Competence 4   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Work Delivery

 

Description   

• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures (Practitioner)
  • Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner)

 

Competence 5   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas

 

Description   

Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment. (Practitioner)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,318, Natural England contributes £7,945 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.