Lead Adviser for Sustainable Coastal Activities

We have an exciting opportunity to develop lasting relationships with passionate stakeholders and use evidence to deliver advice to ensure coastal recreational activities within national and internationally designated sites, are as sustainable as possible regarding their influence on the natural environment. Coastal activities include wildfowling, fishing, water sports and other recreational activity that can cause disturbance on the NW coastline and protected sites.

Working with coastal activities can be a sensitive and challenging work area and needs you to work with a range of stakeholders including those undertaking the activities, representative groups, the public, statutory bodies, and Non-Governmental Organisations.

As Lead Adviser for Sustainable Coastal Activities, you’ll need to understand the range of views, but ensure activities are evidence-led, sustainable and the conservation interests of protected sites are maintained and enhanced. This can include convening and engaging user groups and their representatives, liaising with landowners, developing solutions for sustainable activities (e.g., codes of conduct) and regulating activities e.g., through consenting and by-laws.

Initial activity is likely to focus on wildfowling as we have a need to build relationships with this sector. Wildfowling involves the hunting of specific species of ducks, geese, and waders. Many the sites where wildfowling takes place are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) due to their flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features, they can also be protected as European sites.

Natural England in the north -west aims to work closely with clubs to increase contribution to assessments and positive management. We are also reviewing historic consents to ensure impact on protected species is fully understood and if necessary revised with national guidance and legislation.

Key tasks/principal activities

The position will be hosted by Cheshire to Lancashire as the area team with the greatest need although the work extends into Cumbria. The role will work with other Natural England staff locally and nationally and engage with relevant external stakeholders and partners.

Reviewing the range of recreational coastal activities in the NW.Develop and implement a project plan for the delivery of our wildfowling work across the NW coast, this includes monitoring and reporting progress. Taking guidance from colleagues, work strategically, proactively, and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains in SSSI condition. Engage with internal and external networks relevant to wildfowling and sustainable activities, potentially involve building new networks.Ensure consistency in approach to casework in consultation with national teams including the complex case unit. Consult on casework, consultation with others, notice for consent, regulatory remedies, compliance, and enforcement work. Undertake assessments of wildfowling notices including Habitat Regulations Assessments to include liaison with Legacy consents project, Specialists, Protected Sites and Legal. Report on condition of SSSI land. Identify threats, adverse condition reasons and measures required to improve site condition. Identify knowledge and evidence gaps in research and work with national colleagues to look for ways to fill these. Ensure knowledge is shared with NW coastal staff and others across NE.

How to apply.

We’ll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process. When completing the application form you should present your examples using the STAR format.

STAR stands for:

SituationTaskActionResult

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.