Biodiversity Net Gain & Green Infrastructure Senior Advisers

Natural England has an important role in enabling local authorities and other plan-makers to embed nature into a range of place-based plans, and you will be central to shaping strong partnerships to drive this ambition.

We are advertising for the following roles

Protected Sites Strategic Solutions and Green Infrastructure – Senior Adviser (3 posts)

1x Northumbria Area Team, Newcastle office

1x Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, Leeds/York office

1x East Midlands, Lincoln/Nottingham office

High profile priority roles to help shape local policy and action through collaboration with Local Planning Authorities to address water, air and recreational impacts and pressures on internationally important nature sites. Bring additional focus to delivery of more and better green infrastructure through collaborative cross sectoral working to influence local policy and to embed the new Green Infrastructure (GI) standards.

These local roles will address development pressure on protected sites through the delivery of Strategic Solutions – a solution that can be designed once and used many times to streamline the delivery of mitigation and deliver better environmental outcomes for Natura 2000 sites. You will establish and facilitate the delivery of new strategic solutions, particularly in relation to water quality, air quality, and recreational disturbance and work closely with Local Planning Authorities to collaboratively develop solutions which enable development whilst safeguarding the natural environment

We want to deliver more and better green infrastructure close to where people live and work, with a focus on areas of greatest environmental deprivation. Within our Area Teams you will develop pro-active relationships with relevant cross sector partners to embed GI e.g. health, environment, transport, education and industry and strengthen the role of green infrastructure as well as embed GI standards in local strategic plans, policies and strategies to enhance the quantity and quality of new and existing GI particularly in urban/peri-urban as part of NRNs, so that people from wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and diverse communities are able to experience the benefits of nature.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – Senior Adviser (1 post)

1x Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, Leeds/York office

Roles to help Defra and Local Authorities in preparing for the introduction of this new requirement to deliver gains for nature through the planning system.

We need candidates who enjoy working and collaborating with others and feel passionate about helping to shape improved outcomes for nature. You will work closely with local and national colleagues to maximise opportunities and synergies for nature and access to nature in a range of plans and strategies. The roles will be supported with a suite of learning and development activities.

You will need to be flexible and opportunistic in the role Natural England plays and be responsive to the needs of our local partners. It’s a fantastic opportunity to use your previous experience and any transferable skills to bring people and nature together in an inclusive and collaborative way, to help develop strategic approaches that ensure that people from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and diverse communities are able to experience the benefits of the natural environment.

These local roles will help Defra design and plan for the implementation of mandatory biodiversity net gain as well as help prepare Local Authorities. You will engage locally with Local Planning Authorities to prepare for mandatory net gain, work with stakeholders to understand their existing, and future skill and capacity needs to enable effective BNG delivery and collaborate, influence, and build trusting relationships with partners to identify and secure strategic opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature.

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:

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. Please note STAR format is not required for the ‘Technical Skills and Knowledge’ competency.