Principal Officer

East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber

Job Summary
This is a National Role

Job Description
The team
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 ( NE) 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:

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change;
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
• 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

The post sits within the Planning and Infrastructure Team in the Strategy Group. Strategy Group leads Natural England's engagement with government on environmental policy, delivers new programmes and pilots aligned with major strategies (e.g. the 25 Year Environment Plan), manages strategic relationships with national partners, and develops internal standards and guidance on emerging issues.

This role offers and opportunity to deliver ambitious conversation outcomes and be at the heart of Natural England's response to a changing planning system.

*Job Description*
The Team develops and delivers new approaches to support key 25-Year Environment Plan initiatives and Environmental Improvement Plan targets; leads stakeholder relationships with key national partners and develops internal standards and guidance on novel or complex casework for use by our operation teams ensuring join up across Natural England's marine and terrestrial planning casework.

Fundamental reforms to the planning system are currently progressing through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA), environmental assessment system reforms as well as new Government ambitions proposed through the Planning & Infrastructure Bill. The successful candidate(s) will play a key role in shaping Natural England's response to these reforms, helping to safeguard and secure opportunities for England's protected landscapes whilst balancing this with the need for sustainable development. They will also play a fundamental role in shaping our internal position on landscape to provide consistency in our approach to landscape advice, particularly in relation to high risk and high opportunity casework.

The postholder will use their technical expertise to contribute to Natural England advice on reforms to the land use and infrastructure planning systems, with an initial focus on the implications for landscape (especially protected landscapes) and on Natural England's planning advice. Central to this is the strengthened duty on relevant authorities to 'seek to further' the statutory purpose of protected landscapes, as set out in the LURA, and the postholder will have a key role in advising on how the duty should be applied in plan-making and planning decisions.

Key tasks/ accountabilities
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The Planning, Infrastructure Planning And Environmental Assessment Systems Are In a Period Of Substantial Change And Specific Responsibilities Will Develop And Change Over Time. The Post Holder Will Need To Maintain a Flexible And Adaptable Attitude And Approach. Initial Broad Work Areas Are Likely To Comprise Those Described Below:

• Work with colleagues in the Planning and Infrastructure team to provide specialist landscape and seascape advice to government and other stakeholders on reforms to the planning and infrastructure planning systems. Provide technical leadership on landscape and seascape impacts across NE to ensure high quality, consistent landscape planning advice by

• Leading work to evaluate NE's current approach to landscape/seascape planning casework and making recommendations for future delivery.

• Providing or contributing to internal guidance
• Delivering or contributing to specialist landscape planning training
• Leading or contributing to internal technical networks

• Contributing to landscape evidence work

• Provide advice to Defra/MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) /DESNZ ( Dept for Energy Security and Net Zero) /DfT ( Dept for Transport) on emerging reforms to the planning and infrastructure planning systems and respond/have oversight of consultations as appropriate

• Lead/provide oversight and Quality Assurance of technical planning/infrastructure guidance, briefings and, training and input to business improvement and business readiness work
• Build effective relationships with Defra and MHCLG, Other Government Depts (OGD) and other stakeholders working on landscape planning and planning and infrastructure reform.
• Act as the relationship manager for key planning and infrastructure stakeholders (as required)

*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.

National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area. View a map of our office locations here:

Pay
It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.

*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:

• Technical Skills and Knowledge.
• Creating Resilient Landscapes & Seas.
• Personal Effectiveness.
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment.

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.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all 4 competencies as set out in the Job Description. Successful candidates will be allocated roles in merit order based on scores achieved at interview.

Competencies
Competence 1

Professional competency

Technical

• Substantial expertise and applied experience of spatial planning (development plans), development management (TCPA) and infrastructure planning systems (Planning Act) and environmental planning, including the principles and policies for biodiversity net gain, nature recovery, green infrastructure and protected landscapes and their application to development (Essential).
• Substantial expertise and applied experience of the application of landscape planning and design principles, including an understanding of landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA), in order to advise on the impacts of plans or projects on landscape/seascape character (Essential)
• Technical expertise and applied experience of environmental assessment processes (Habitats Regulations Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment) and how these processes inform planning decisions. (Essential)
• Experience of working with key national external partners and stakeholders (Desirable)
• Relevant degree e.g. landscape/ planning/ environmental assessment or equivalent level of applied experience (Essential)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Creating resilient landscapes and seas

• Identify and apply relevant planning and environmental legislation, policies and processes to deliver effective and proportionate evidence-based solutions and advice (Expert).
• Apply landscape planning and design principles in order to advise on the impacts of development on landscape/seascape character (Expert)

Competence 3

Professional competency

Personal Effectiveness

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Expert).
• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Expert).
• Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Expert))

Competence 4

Professional competency

Putting people at the heart of the environment

• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England's vision, mission and aims (Expert)
• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England (Expert)

*Contact And Additional Information*
Emma Brown

Alex Southcott

The team
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 ( NE) offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

*Contact And Additional Information*
Emma Brown

Alex Southcott

Person specification

Please Refer To Job Description
Alongside your salary of £51,000, Natural England contributes £14,774 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Selection process details

Please Refer To Job Description
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Emma Brown
• Email :
• Telephone :

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-

Further information