3245 - Natural England Senior Adviser
We have a wide variety of roles on offer. Some roles on offer can only be done from specific offices. This includes Area Team roles where you would be expected to be based in the team’s geographic area. Some National Team roles have ‘hubs’ where you would be expected to join the rest of the team in a specific office. Many roles in National Teams can be undertaken from any office.
You can view a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations.
Please specify your location preferences in the appropriate field on the application form.
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 successful candidates are most suited to wherever possible.
We are looking for people who have a combination of technical skills and behaviours and are specialists in their fields.
These are leading roles in which you’ll work with partners to progress sustainable development and nature recovery in England. You’ll make sure nature gets the best deal possible by leading reform and business improvement of planning and licensing work, including delivering biodiversity net gain or work with Nature Recovery Partnerships. And you’ll develop ambitious partnership plans for places with nature at their heart. It’s a fantastic opportunity to use your previous experience to bring people and nature together.
A driving licence is highly desirable as many roles will require travel for site visits or partnership meetings that may not be accessible by public transport.
We are looking for people who can demonstrate their skills and experience in relation to at least one of the work areas identified in the Technical Skills and Knowledge section below:
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. STAR stands for
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Use of STAR format is not required for the ‘Technical skills and 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 your application.
Next steps
If we receive a significant number of applications we may choose to sift applications on the first two competencies of Technical Skills and Knowledge and Personal Effectiveness only.
Candidates should expect to be contacted before the end of July to inform them if they have been invited to interview. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
If you are successful in being invited to interview you will be asked to give examples for all four competencies.
Everything’s better with nature. You included.
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.
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 scientists, lawyers, project managers and experts to implement environmental policy and shape decisions.
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.
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
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.
See more about the work of Natural England at:
28/06/2021, 23:55 hours
• Knowledge of and experience in applying relevant legislative frameworks and drivers for the environment and the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders
• Experience of providing specialist advice to colleagues, customer and stakeholders including policymakers. Evidence of coaching and mentoring staff
• Significant experience of, and ability in, applying effective communication skills (verbal and written) in conveying complex and/or difficult messages to a variety of different audiences
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment delivering work within deadlines and leading on projects to provide delivery reports to Senior Leaders to enable decision-making.
In addition candidates should demonstrate one or more of the specific skills below in relation to one of our six key programmes.
• Ecological knowledge of one or more habitats or species groups (please specify). Experience in field survey, including species identification and data analysis interpretation. Providing data and evidence to colleagues and stakeholders.
• Experience of working with farmers and landowners to advise on how they manage their land in a sustainable way for the benefit of the natural environment
• Evidence of working on high-profile planning or protected sites/ species complex and or/contentious cases
• Experience of working within the statutory planning and wildlife licensing process and experience in how nature is accommodated within the system locally or nationally
• A detailed understanding of England’s wider biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to protected species and Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Ecological skills of one or more habitats or species groups (please specify). Understanding of ecological principles and habitats/species
• Experience in connecting people with nature, advising policymakers and stakeholders on the positive effects access to nature can have on health and wellbeing for all communities. Knowledge of how to engage people and partnerships to foster nature recovery and instil sustainability
• Experience of successfully working in working in partnerships with diverse groups (not necessarily in the environmental sector) and proven experience of community engagement and a sound understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
• Experience of gathering and analysing business intelligence, leading on projects to provide delivery reports to Senior Leaders to enable decision-making.
• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act (practitioner)
• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (practitioner)
• Understand and explain the outcomes that we seek in your local patch and how these fit in with local and national issues (practitioner)
• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures (practitioner)
• Consider the financial implications of your work and seek income from our products and services (practitioner)
This Vacancy is closed to applications.