Senior Specialist in Climate Change – (Ref: 5185)

East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber

This position is based Nationally

Are you passionate about nature conservation, have a strong science background and want to play a part in shaping how we tackle climate change? Then we’ve got the job for you! 

 

There is an urgent need to address the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss in a joined-up way. Our work in Natural England is growing to support these challenges and support the Government commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2050. 

 

Nature based solutions are a win-win for action on the climate and biodiversity crises.  They are an essential component in our fight to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as well as building the resilience of business, wildlife and people to climate change.  It is however essential that they are used in the right places in the right way. 

 

Achieving this will require evidence on what works on a landscape scale to inform new policies, new technologies and action. Key actions including many more trees, restored peatlands and improved soil and water management but different approaches work best in different places and the risks and opportunities for other habitats including grasslands, heathlands, saltmarsh and seagrass are still subject to major uncertainties. At the same time, it is important that other land, including agricultural areas are managed sustainably in ways that support biodiversity and reduce emissions. 

 

Natural England plays an important part in making sure that the decisions we make now count and lead to positive action on the ground.  

 

The Organisation 

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

 

At Natural England, we love what we do. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. A healthy natural environment is fundamental to our wellbeing, prosperity and happiness – that’s why we collaborate with a wide range of different people to implement environmental policy and shape decisions. 

 

We work with our 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. 

 

We are focusing our efforts on six key programmes: 

Greener Farming and Fisheries – supporting those who manage land and sea to operate in harmony with the environment 

Sustainable Development – creating great places for people to live and work 

Connecting People with Nature – promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors 

Resilient Landscapes and Seas – protecting and restoring wildlife and natural beauty for future generations 

Specialist Science and Evidence – an evidence-led organisation that is driven by science 

Managing the Organisation – gathering business data to enable decision making 

 

Climate change is an integral part of all these programmes, and we have a new Strategic Plan for Climate Change to raise our ambition on both adaptation and mitigation of climate change. 

 

The Team 

The Science Directorate is part of the Chief Scientist’s Directorate. We lead on the development and application of natural, economic, and social science evidence to inform and enable the achievement of environmental outcomes both within Natural England and externally. Specialist roles underpin Natural England’s position as an evidence-led organisation. The roles are varied, both building the evidence base and applying it to make a real difference to the natural environment. 

Job description  

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Specialist in Climate Change to join our expanding team, working at strategic level to ensure that we meet the ambitions of this work and develop the evidence base to support the full range of nature-based solutions.  

 

The role involves carrying out research, reviewing evidence and providing expert, evidence-based and practical advice across Natural England and within the Defra Group and other partners, with a focus on the Government’s commitment to Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

Key evidence issues include: carbon storage and sequestration by terrestrial, coastal and marine habitats, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, methane emissions from livestock in relation to conservation management and technical support on greenhouse gas emissions for peatland restoration. 

Ian Crosher, Senior Specialist in Climate Change, describes his experience within the Climate Change Team: 

 Understanding how the natural environment is adjusting to the changes in climate and how this influences carbon in our ecosystems, how we can deliver nature recovery in a way that uses the best evidence to help store carbon long term and lock in greater amounts in the future by delivering nature-based solutions in a wide range of places and habitats. 

 In my role I have the chance to develop and improve the evidence base around carbon in nature and develop tools that will be used to integrate climate delivery into nature recovery. Being at the coal face, of trying to solve the climate and ecological crisis, makes this an exciting, fast moving and increasingly high-profile work area as we continue to work with others to influence the development of emerging policy and key delivery mechanisms. I work closely with colleagues on biodiversity and net zero goals as well as a wide range of other Natural England workstreams. I also work with the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission and ENGO’s, evolving evidence and guidance, and working collaboratively towards common goals. I feel supported in my role, and I am actively encouraged to continually learn and develop in a way that ensures that I can make an ever increasing and rewarding contribution towards conservation. 

Key tasks and accountabilities 

This is an evolving work area and specific responsibilities will develop and change over time. The post holder will need to maintain a flexible and adaptable attitude and approach. Initial broad work areas are described below: 

 

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for Natural England’s contribution to the UK’s net zero commitment, especially the role of nature-based solutions 
• Provide thought leadership alongside practical and evidence-based advice to drive several Natural England priority work areas and projects (e.g. Nature Recovery Network, Protected Sites, Environmental Land Management, Green Recovery, Green/Blue Finance & carbon offsetting) 

• Provision of synthesis of evidence and case studies to support Natural England teams, including input to evidence briefings at short notice 
• Play a key role in research and monitoring projects.  This may include design of research projects, specification of equipment, fieldwork, data analysis and interpretation. 
• Communication of science, including project outputs, in a variety of forms including scientific papers, reports and presentations for both specialist and non – specialist audiences. 
• Working with colleagues in the Climate Change team; support communications, knowledge exchange and capability building across Natural England teams, including work to consolidate and promote climate change related resources and materials 
• Working with partners, including academic institutions and the Defra group to identify evidence gaps, develop projects and seek funding opportunities to improve the evidence base as it relates to this specialism 

• Represent NE on external groups, Government committees and networks 
• Work closely with Defra to provide technical evidence-based advice to inform policy development, including drafting or writing briefings 

 

The ideal candidate would: 

• Be qualified to at least BSc level in a relevant science discipline, with several years experience working on climate change and ecosystems. A postgraduate qualification (masters or doctorate) in a relevant area is desirable.  

• Have in-depth understanding of climate change and its impacts on the natural environment, together with adaptation and mitigation approaches relevant to ecosystems. 
• Have experience of research on carbon storage and sequestration in natural or semi-natural habitats and/or greenhouse gas emissions from land. 
• Demonstrate a strong track record of designing and delivering robust field monitoring and sampling strategies 
• Have a good knowledge of the scientific literature on Nature-based Solutions for climate change and related topics, together with an understanding of the wider factors that affect British ecosystems. 
• Have a record of writing scientific publications (including papers, reports, theses) in a relevant scientific discipline. 

• Show a basic understanding of Natural England’s role in climate change adaptation and mitigation 
• Be a good team player who can build working relationships with a wide range of people, including building capability in others 

 

Natural England staff are inclusive, motivated and ambitious to achieve results for our environment, for everyone. We welcome and encourage applications from all communities, and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role. 

 

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. 

 

From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes. 

 

Additional Information  

This role will sometimes involve working outside, including in remote areas away from paths and roads and potentially in bad weather.  There is a requirement for regular travel including to sites which are not accessible by public transport, so a driving licence is essential. National travel will be required, which will involve some overnight stays and anti-social hours.  

 

National team roles can be done from any NE office. You can view a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations 

 

See more about the work of Natural England at 

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england 

 

How to apply 

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 for competencies 2-4. STAR stands for: 

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result

 

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. 

 

Competencies

 

Competence 1  

Professional competency

 

Detail  

Technical
Skills and knowledge (STAR formal is not required for this competency)

 

Description  

• Qualified to at least BSc level in a relevant science. A postgraduate qualification in a relevant area would be preferred. Applicants that do not hold the required degrees should specify experience and outputs that they have produced to demonstrate that they have an equivalent level of knowledge.
  • Good knowledge of the scientific literature on Nature-based Solutions for climate change and related topics, including the potential contribution to delivering net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the risks and opportunities for other land management objectives.
  • Good understanding of soil biogeochemistry, nutrient cycling and the role of the main greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) in causing climate change and the processes affecting their emissions and removals from the atmosphere.
  • Good understanding of monitoring and sampling strategies to take account of spatial and temporal variations and make robust comparisons between habitats, locations and management interventions.
  • Have a record of writing scientific publications (including papers, reports, theses) in a relevant scientific discipline.
  • Strong communicator – able to communicate complex scientific concepts and analysis in a simple, straightforward, and objective way.
  • An understanding of the factors that affect the management of land in the UK, including the role of agriculture, forestry, conservation and the ecosystem services agenda.
  • An understanding of the policy context on climate change and the natural environment, UK Climate Projections 2018 and the relevant legislative drivers e.g. the Climate Change Act 2008.

 

Competence 2  

Professional competency

 

Detail  

Personal Effectiveness

 

Description  

• Ensure the overall robustness, quality and impact of our evidence and analysis within your specialism (Expert)
  • Test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way providing scientific scrutiny, challenge and assurance that is practical and, where appropriate, cross-disciplinary (Expert)
  • Use horizon scanning skills to identify emerging evidence requirements and methods that could address them (Expert)

 

Competence 3  

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 Natural England (Practitioner)
  • Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (Practitioner)
  • Build relationships and effective networks both externally and internally to bring in fresh perspectives, approaches and evidence to raise the profile of both your individual specialist work and that of Natural England (Expert)

 

Competence 4  

Professional competency

 

Detail  

Work Delivery

 

Description  

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert)
  • Apply the relevant methodologies and tools for collecting and collating data / evidence including metadata (Practitioner)
  • Understand evaluation and apply it to your work at an appropriate scale in order to identify the impact of our evidence or interventions and opportunities for improvement (Practitioner)

Contact and additional information (Recruiters Name, Email and Phone Number)  

For further information on this role or Natural England, please contact either: 

Rebecca Nash, Team Leader, Rebecca.nash@naturalengland.org.uk, telephone 07796 233401 

Mike Morecroft, Principal Specialist, mike.morecroft@naturalengland.org.uk, telephone 07810 052993 

Please refer to Job Description

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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Job contact :

• Name : Rebecca Nash
• Email : Rebecca.nash@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07796 233401

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@gov.sscl.com