About the job

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

The team

Science, Evidence and Analysis are at the heart of Natural England's advice, operations and regulatory activity.

To be successful in recovering nature, we need high quality, relevant and up to date evidence that is actively and confidently applied by all of us.  This means we need, amongst other things, to understand what changes are happening in the natural environment and what interventions and actions work well.

Our underpinning science, evidence and analytical capability continues to grow, as we develop our role as an evidence-led organisation.

The Chief Scientist Directorate is a delivery team, made up of:

Science, Evidence and Analysis are at the heart of Natural England's advice, operations and regulatory activity.

To be successful in recovering nature, we need high quality, relevant and up to date evidence that is actively and confidently applied by all of us.  This means we need, amongst other things, to understand what changes are happening in the natural environment and what interventions and actions work well.

Our underpinning science, evidence and analytical capability continues to grow, as we develop our role as an evidence-led organisation.

The Chief Scientist Directorate is a delivery team, made up of:

• Analysis Directorate (including Data Science Services & Knowledge into Practice)
• Evidence Directorate (including Science & Evidence Programme)
• Science Directorate

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, and

· 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

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.

You will become an active member of the relevant local leadership community, the group of senior Natural England staff in each of the localities across England who we ask to provide support and co-ordination for the local group of staff.

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:

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.

Leading and managing people, Personal effectiveness, work delivery

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 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

Additional Information

These are all nationally dispersed teams, so location is flexible.

Some travel will be required with occasional overnight stays.

Please note:

• If we receive a high number of applications the initial sift will be based on the first competency (leading and managing people).
• We may use a reserve list of candidates who pass at interview for any future opportunities that arise at the same grade in Natural England where similar skills are necessary.  

Job description

Our Team Leaders are vital to the smooth running of Natural England, providing leadership and support for team members, translating the overall priorities and direction into day-to-day work programmes for teams. Team Leaders support our people and strive to ensure a fulfilling work life and a heathy work/ life balance for all.

As a Team Leader you will play an essential role in coaching and developing your team, helping people to further their careers and interests. Your role will include:

• Ensuring that everyone has a safe working environment, and that both mental and physical health are protected
• Leading your team through periods of change
• Offering leadership, guidance and support to ensure effective delivery of your team’s work
• Managing staff performance to ensure targets are met
• Helping staff to find solutions to problems, encouraging creative thinking and seeking continual improvement
• Ensuring Natural England’s Ways of Working are embedded into your team, and leading by example

Recruitment Framework

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Leading and Managing People

Description

• Develop an inclusive and trusting team environment that positively safeguards team members’ physical and mental wellbeing (expert)
• Set clear plans and expectations for your team, explain reasons behind decisions, be clear on the outcomes to be achieved, and make things happen by sharing and delegating work to the right people(practitioner)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Personal Effectiveness

Description

• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (practitioner)
• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and throughout the organisation you represent and inspire others to act (practitioner)

Competence 3

Professional competency

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)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,098, Natural England contributes £9,782 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.