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.

Job description 1  

The Lead Adviser (Marine Major Casework - Terrestrial Ecology) will play a central role in the delivery of Natural England’s formal technical advice on the terrestrial ecology elements of major development in the marine environment.

 

This role will initially focus on the delivery of terrestrial elements around offshore renewable energy.

 

The post holder will:

 

• Act as terrestrial lead and build expertise in the delivery of Natural England’s advice on marine Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and other major developments.
• Deliver timely and evidence-based advice on the terrestrial elements of major developments, acting as the case lead, working closely with lead advisers national specialists, and senior and principal advisers to ensure our advice is quality assured and robust for external use.

 

This will include (but not be limited to):

 

• Review and comment on Environmental Impacts Assessments, Habitat Regulations Assessments and supporting survey / modelling / technical reports during the project pre-application and application phases and work with developers to ensure all potential environmental impacts of developments have been fully addressed.
• Provision of statutory advice to competent authorities within specified statutory timeframes.
• Provision of comments, advice and guidance to developers on pre, during and post construction monitoring techniques / surveys and reports, under Natural England’s Discretionary Advice Service where appropriate.
• The provision of advice to competent authorities/decision makers on whether or not Development Consent Order requirements have been met.
• Identify any risks associated with the delivery of this work and ensure they are escalated appropriately within the project case team.
• Work effectively within Natural England to ensure join up in our advice on development and planning.
• Participate in relevant internal networks to ensure exchange of information and best practice and assist broader development of understanding within the wider organisation.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Additional Information

 

• A driving licence is desirable for the role but not essential.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Flexible working patterns will generally be accommodated unless stated otherwise.
• Candidates with disabilities will automatically be put forward to the interview stage provided that they satisfy the minimum criteria for the role.

 

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 & Knowledge
• Work Delivery
• Personal Effectiveness
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
• Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas

 

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.

Competencies

 

Competence 1   

 

Professional competency

Detail   

 

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Description   

• Degree or equivalent qualification and relevant recent practical work experience - essential
  • Practitioner level knowledge/experience of working on coastal and terrestrial habitats and species – essential.
  • Knowledge of current and planned European and domestic policies, legislative frameworks and drivers for the terrestrial environment combined with a practical understanding of the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders – essential
  • Knowledge of marine industries such as renewable energy, interconnectors and their interactions with terrestrial habitats and species - desirable

 

Competence 2   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Work Delivery

 

Description   

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner).
  • Apply the relevant methodologies and tools for collecting and collating data / evidence including metadata (Practitioner).

 

Competence 3   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Personal Effectiveness

 

Description   

• Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Basic).
  • Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Basic).
  • Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Practitioner).

 

Competence 4   

Professional competency

 

Detail   

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

 

Description   

• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation you represents vision, mission and aims (Practitioner).
  • Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (Practitioner).

 

Competence 5   

Professional competency

 

Detail  

Creating Resilient Landscapes & Seas

 

Description  

• Use and contribute to the evidence base on environmental and landscape change to support resilient landscapes and seascapes (Practitioner).
  • Identify and apply relevant planning and environmental legislation, policies and processes to deliver effective and proportionate evidence-based solutions and advice (Practitioner)Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (Practitioner).

 

Contact information 

Sally Hawkins-Brown: 07471 026610

sally.hawkins-brown@naturalengland.org.uk

Or

Tim Frayling: 07900 608210

tim.frayling@naturalengland.org.uk

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.