Sustainable Development Lead Adviser (Ref: 5548)

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

This role will be based within the Thames Solent Area Team, who are responsible for delivering environmental outcomes across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, London, Surrey, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight. 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 and landscapes within the patch. Thames Solent is the largest area team in Natural England, in terms of geography and headcount. Covering a large patch of the Southeast and incorporating two National Parks, the vast and diverse landscape in the Thames Solent area makes it a very exciting place to work.

The Sustainable Development Lead Adviser will:

• Deliver timely, high quality and pragmatic advice to authorities and developers in the Thames Solent area.
• Proactively work with partners on strategic solutions and projects that take forward 25-year environment plan goals including net gain and nature recovery.
• Seek and take opportunities to increase the proportion of our time spent on chargeable services that support better environmental outcomes.
• Contribute to efforts to improve our effectiveness in engaging with planning and development.
• Invest in personal development and capabilities and support the development of colleagues.
• Help tell the story of what Natural England is achieving in Thames Solent and why it is important.

 Knowledge, Skills & Experience  

• Experience of working in the environment and understanding of the ecology and management principles for a variety of habitats and species
• Knowledge of environmental legislation including policies and procedures relating to SSSI’s, European sites, designated landscapes, and protected species
• Knowledge of the planning system
• Good organisational skills and ability to co-ordinate complex work programmes and operational activity

The Role

As a Sustainable Development Lead Adviser for Natural England, you will work in Thames Solent Area Team to advise on Local Development Plans, infrastructure and housing projects and develop new approaches to manage pressures like recreational disturbance, nutrient neutrality, biodiversity net gain.

By engaging early with major developments, we have the opportunity to 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.

This is a rewarding role with fantastic opportunities to secure positive environmental outcomes on the ground and to further our Nature Recovery Network. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of high-profile cases.

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 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.

Competencies

Competence 1 Professional competency

Detail 

Technical Skills and Knowledge
(There is no requirement to use STAR format to demonstrate this competency, but please provide evidence of your experience)

Description 

• A relevant degree (e.g., geography, environmental studies, planning, ecology) or alternative qualification and/or suitable relevant experience, please specify. (Essential).

• Knowledge of the application of National Planning Policy to shape environmental solutions for designated sites, protected landscapes, and species (Essential).

• Ability to assess environmental impacts and identify appropriate avoidance, mitigation and/or compensation methods.

Competence 2 Professional competency

Detail 

Communicating Effectively

Description 

• Use appropriate level of written and spoken language and terminology to deliver clear messages, accurately targeted at the specific audience.

Competence 3 Professional competency

Detail 

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Description

• Negotiate and influence in a well-informed way to achieve positive solutions focussed outcomes.
• Develop an understanding of your customers’ and partners’ business objectives and needs.

Competence 4 Professional competency

Detail 

Work Delivery

Description 

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines.
• Identify priority evidence needs and seek ways to meet them (e.g. through funding or partnerships).
• Work well as part of a team, supporting colleagues, as well as able to work effectively on your own.

• 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%

Job contact :

• Name : Rachael Jameson
• Email : rachael.jameson@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07342 056 446

Recruitment team

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