About the job

Job summary

These positions can be based at the following locations: 

Leeds, York

Job description

The team 1 

About Natural England

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?

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

We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers on a huge range of projects, from influencing construction, advising farmers and landowners how they can manage their land in a sustainable way for the benefit of the environment, gathering and analysing environmental data, and carrying out vital statutory duties. Across the country, we’re helping nature to support people and our planet.

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

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

The Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire Area Team

The team works across the four counties of Yorkshire and in northern Lincolnshire, sweeping down from the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the South Pennines. It encompasses the urban and industrial areas of South and West Yorkshire and the agricultural lowlands of the East Riding, before reaching the beautiful Yorkshire Coast, the Humber Estuary and the sea beyond.  We have 386 Sites of Special Scientific interest, 2 National Parks, 4 AONBs, 12 National Nature Reserves and we work with 29 Local Planning Authorities. Our work focuses on restoring habitats, reconnecting the natural environment, and connecting people with nature across the area.

The Team is responsible for delivering environmental outcomes set out in the Defra 25-year plan across Yorkshire & Northern Lincolnshire. Key to this will be the development of a Nature Recovery Network, with protected sites and sustainable development at the heart. The team uses a range of mechanisms including land management and planning advice, engagement with stakeholders and direct management of our own land, to achieve the protection and enhancement of biodiversity, geodiversity, landscapes and the historic environment.

Job description & The Role

Natural England has an important role in enabling local authorities and other plan-makers to embed nature into a range of place-based plans. You will work with Area Team staff and partners to progress sustainable development and recovery of nature in Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

As a Sustainable Development Lead Adviser, you will work alongside regulators and stakeholders to integrate the needs of biodiversity and landscape within local planning. By engaging early with major developments, you can work collaboratively to avoid negative impacts to the natural environment, provide appropriate mitigation and secure large scale environmental outcomes which benefit nature and people’s connection with nature.

You will be joining a passionate, knowledgeable and hardworking team who are dedicated to ensuing positive environmental outcomes are achieved. This is a challenging and rewarding role that provides great opportunities to develop the full range of key capabilities in support of your personal development

As a Lead Adviser working in Natural England your role would include:

• Providing clear evidence-based statutory advice to Local Planning Authorities on the environmental impacts and opportunities of planning proposals, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and Local Plans, adding value to achieve the best possible outcomes for the environment
• Building partnerships with customers and stakeholders to resolve complex planning issues and developing collaborative strategic approaches to maximise gains for nature
• Participate in relevant internal networks to ensure personal development and the timely exchange of information and best practice and identifying more effective ways of working through collating lessons learned

You do not have to currently be in a planning role, but knowledge or experience of at least one of the following is sought:

• Environmental legislation including policies and procedures relating to SSSI’s, European sites, designated landscapes, and protected species
• The planning system
• The natural environment and strong a understanding of the ecology and management principles for a variety of habitats and species

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 three 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 that our staff will 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 geographic 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.

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

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
• Communicating Effectively 
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
• Work Delivery

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. Please ensure you read the Candidate Information Pack before you begin completing the application form.

Additional information

• A driving license is desirable for the role.
• The role will be based at either York (Kings Pool, Foss House) , or Leeds (Lateral)

Competencies

Competence 1 

Professional competency

Detail 

Technical Skill & Knowledge

Description 

• Understanding or experience of the planning system and its processes, including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) developments. (Essential)
  
  
• Knowledge or experience of relevant legislation e.g. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, Town and Country Planning Act, Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Essential)
  
  
• Ability to identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation and compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (Desirable)
  
  
• Broad understanding of ecology, ideally for both species and habitats. (Desirable)
  
  
• A relevant degree (e.g., geography, environmental studies, planning, ecology etc.), suitable relevant experience or alternative qualification (Desirable)

Competence 2 

Professional competency

Detail 

Personal Effectiveness

Description 

• Be decisive, combine your professional judgement with evidence to inform your decision-making (Practitioner)
  
  
• Address challenging issues and manage conflict (Practitioner)
  
  
• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Basic)

Competence 3 

Professional competency

Detail 

Putting people at the heart of the environment

Description 

• Listen to and understand a range of 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 4 

Professional competency

Detail 

Work Delivery

Description 

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