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:
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Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive.
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Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change.
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Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods.
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Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
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Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing.
We are the Government’s Adviser 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
Job description
We're seeking someone who is keen to contribute to the successful long-term outcome of the Government’s aspiration to increase woodland cover across England. Natural England has a crucial role in helping to realise this ambition, both through provision of technical advice and by influencing how new tree establishment can contribute to nature recovery, climate resilience, flood risk mitigation, water quality and social benefits.
You will have a good ecological understanding of priority habitats and priority species and the opportunities and threats that woodland creation brings to these. You will have confidence in providing technical advice on this to our partners and a range of land managers.
The ability to prioritise casework will be important.
You will be part of a network of 22 Tree Action Plan Delivery advisers embedded in our 12 area teams.
Key tasks and responsibilities:
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Responding to consultations on woodland creation proposals from partners such as the Forestry Commission, Community Forests, the Woodland Trust, National Parks, landowners and agents.
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Providing site specific technical advice on
opportunities to maximise new woodland creation’s contribution to nature’s recovery
the constraints presented to woodland creation from existing environmental assets such as priority habitats, priority species and peat soils
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Nurturing close working relationships with local colleagues in the Forestry Commission and other key woodland creation partners.
- Developing a comprehensive understanding of grant support mechanisms for tree establishment.
- Securing interest in woodland creation from landowners and other land managers
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 our staff 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 geographical 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.
This role is an Area Team role based within the Northumbria Area Team. The main office is based at Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YH. Staff are also based at National Nature Reserve Offices at Lindisfarne, Castle Eden Dene, Moorhouse Upper Teesdale and Teesmouth.
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:
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Technical Skills & Knowledge.
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Personal Effectiveness.
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Putting People at the Heart of the Environment.
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Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas.
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.
Description
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Understanding of landscape-scale nature recovery, specifically involving tree and woodland establishment and their interaction with other key priority habitats and species (Essential)
- The ability to identify priority habitats in the field (Essential)
- Relevant degree (e.g. geography, countryside management or forestry) or equivalent relevant experience (Essential)
- Understanding of Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment and UK Forestry Standards (desirable)
Competence 2
Professional competency
Detail
Personal Effectiveness
Description
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Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (practitioner)
- Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (practitioner)
- Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (practitioner)
Competence 3
Professional competency
Detail
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
Description
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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 (basic)
Competence 4
Professional competency
Detail
Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas.
Description
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Understand the environmental value of designated sites, priority habitats and priority species and explain that to partners, stakeholders and customers (practitioner)
- Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation and compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (practitioner)