3685 - Natural England Adviser

We have a wide variety of roles on offer. Here are some examples of the main types of role we have available:

• Working in teams who advise farmers on how to reduce pollution from their farms and increase their biodiversity
• Providing advice through the planning system to ensure habitats are protected and consider environmental opportunities of development activity
• Working in teams providing advice to landowners and the fishing industry on how to manage and improve the quality of protected habitats on land and at sea
• Providing advice through our wildlife licensing system to ensure valuable species are protected
• Working in our enquiries team as the first contact for public and partner seeking advice
• Working across Natural England to gather and analyse environmental and/ or business intelligence to support decision-making and governance.

Some roles are permanent and some are available as a fixed-term appointment.

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 can be done from any NE office while some National Teams have ‘hubs’ where you would be expected to join the rest of the team in a specific office including at Worcester and Crewe offices.

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.

Technical skills and knowledge required:

• Relevant experience
• Knowledge of Natural England’s role
• Experience and evidence of providing advice to customers and stakeholders
• Knowledge and experience of working within policy guidelines
• 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 contributing to team targets

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

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.

Next steps

If we receive a significant number of applications we may choose to sift applications on the first two competencies of Personal Effectiveness and Work Delivery only.

If you are successful in being invited to interview you will be asked to give examples for all three competencies. 

As this is a large recruitment campaign, timescales may be longer than usually expected, candidates being invited to interview will be contacted by email before end of December 2021.

Successful candidates who pass interview 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.

Everything’s better with nature. You included.

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.

As the Government’s statutory advisor for the natural environment, we work with a wide range of partners, and customers on a huge range of projects, from influencing construction and development, advising farmers and landowners how they can manage their land in a sustainable way, monitoring and protecting habitats on land and at sea, improving ways to connect people with nature and establishing nature recovery networks. Across the country, we’re helping nature to support people and our planet. 

See more about the work of Natural England at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

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.