Sustainable Development – Lead Adviser Ref : 5561

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   

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, pragmatic, 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. 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.
• Identifying and taking up opportunities for income generation through our Discretionary Advice Service, including commencing discussions with potential customers to gauge interest and securing agreements, preparing customer contracts and delivering the services specified.

You do not have to currently be in a planning role, but knowledge and 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 understanding of the ecology and management principles for a variety of habitats and species
• Good organisational skills and ability to co-ordinate complex work programmes and operational activity

 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)
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Competencies

Competence 1   

Professional competency

Detail   

Technical Skill & Knowledge

Description   

• Understanding and 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)

  • A relevant degree (e.g., geography, environmental studies, planning, ecology etc.), suitable relevant experience or alternative qualification (Desirable)

  • Knowledge and experience of applying relevant legislation to ensure protection and environmental gain of designated sites, protected landscapes and species e.g., Habitats Regulations Assessments, Sustainability Appraisals and Environmental Impact Assessments (desirable)

  • Broad understanding of ecology, ideally for both species and habitats. (desirable)

Competence 2   

Professional competency

Detail   

Personal Effectiveness

Description   

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (basic)

  • Be decisive, combine your professional judgement with evidence to inform your decision-making(Practitioner)

  • Address challenging issues and manage conflict (Practitioner)

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)

• 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 : Peter Gray
• Email : peter.gray@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07876846284

Recruitment team

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