Overview

At Natural England, we advise the UK Government on the natural environment. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. From advising farmers on sustainable land management to gathering and analysing environmental data and promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors, we love what we do. Join us and you’ll be part of an inclusive, motivated and ambitious team, committed to achieving results for our environment and for everyone.

About the role

As our Lead Advisor for Nature Recovery and Greener Farming, you’ll provide crucial technical advice on habitat and species management to farmers, landowners and land managers. Your work will play a significant role in safeguarding and enhancing our natural environment, primarily through agri-environment schemes and collaborating on improvements to protected sites.

Alongside this, you’ll deliver protected sites casework, such as assessing proposals, and provide advice to team members across land use planning and woodland creation work.

You’ll also be joining us at a particularly exciting time in our history, as we help deliver the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan, an ambitious range of projects designed to achieve positive environmental outcomes for generations to come.

About you

We’re looking for someone with experience in agri-environmental schemes and field surveys. You’ll also have a good knowledge of land management, relevant legislation, agricultural practices and England’s biodiversity commitments. Some knowledge of ecological principles is desirable, but not essential.

Just as much, we’re looking for excellent communication, collaboration and partnership building skills. Good judgement and solid organisational skills are also important. You should have a relevant degree or an equivalent qualification.

Key Tasks

As a Lead Adviser working in Natural England your role would include:

• Working with landowners/land managers and stakeholders to deliver improvements to the condition of habitats and species on protected sites (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation)
• Using Agri-Environment schemes (Countryside Stewardship and Higher-Level Stewardship extension) to help maintain/deliver improvement in the condition of protected sites and deliver nature recovery in the wider landscape
• Delivery of protected sites casework such as assessing proposals for activities which require our permission
• Monitoring of a range of habitat, species and geological features
• Provision of advice to other staff in the team delivering land use planning casework and woodland creation work on or affecting protected sites
• Facilitate and support others to help deliver nature recovery outside protected sites

We are looking for individuals who have a broad combination of technical skills set out below:

• Applicants should have a relevant degree in an environmental discipline/ conservation, or significant practical experience of working in the environmental sector
• A broad understanding of England’s biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• An understanding of agricultural practices and managing land for environmental outcomes coupled with a knowledge of farming systems and examples of influencing land managers and owners through negotiation
• Previous experience of agri-environmental schemes such as Environmental Stewardship or Countryside Stewardship is desirable
• Experience of field surveys, including species identification and data interpretation
• Knowledge of ecological principles and the ecology of one or more habitats or species groups is desirable
• Good communication skills including the ability to explain technical information to a range of audiences, negotiation and engagement with local stakeholders
• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages. Experience of Geographic Information Systems is desirable but not essential.