Water Planning Senior Adviser

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 308975**Salary**:

- £33,763**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer- Senior Adviser**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Environment and Sustainability**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- North West EnglandAbout the job

**Job summary**:

- This position can be based at Crewe, Manchester**Job description**:
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:

- 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.

The Cheshire to Lancashire area team provides environmental leadership in an area of 6 million people with magnificent natural assets including the Pennine and Bowland hills, the wetlands of Cheshire and Great Manchester and the wildlife-rich Irish Sea coast. Natural England’s Cheshire to Lancashire Team will host this role although the water infrastructure projects span both Cheshire to Lancashire and West Midlands teams.

Job description

The changing climate is resulting in increasing demand on our precious water resources, increasing demand for flood alleviation, together with the requirements placed on water companies to clean up our waterbodies are resulting in the growth of major infrastructure projects for water and with it the demand for advice from within Natural England on nature recovery, natural solutions and connecting people with nature. We are looking for an experienced and inspiring individual with a good grounding in development planning, net gain, environmental assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment, environmental and water legislation, and an understanding of ecological threats and opportunities specifically with regard to water resources, to lead Natural England’s advice in the Cheshire to Lancashire area team. The role will focus on the water companies’ Water Resource Management plans and specifically the RAPID* (Regulators Advice for progressing infrastructure development) work, co-ordinate advice on the Severn Water Transfer and United Utilities sources in Cheshire to Lancashire, it will coordinate the local contract with the Environment Agency providing proactive advice on flood alleviation schemes, provide specific guidance into United Utilities Water Resources Management Plan and the Water Resources West Programme as well as other strategic water planning projects that come along including supporting early engagement with United Utilities on the delivery of the next asset management phase. This will involve advising on the development management implications of these schemes including providing guidance on Habitats Regulation Assessments for European protected sites.

The role will also lead for the team on Nutrient Neutrality, inputting into the development management process, providing advice on the nutrient neutrality context for Local Plans that come forward and developing strategic mitigation solutions with Local Planning Authorities and key stakeholders as well as contributing to Nutrient Management Boards as required.

The role will provide a strategic overview and manage partnership relations and technical support and advice to water companies on water resources more generally. For example, you may be expected to contribute and advise on resource management plans, drainage water management plans, drought plans and River basin district management plans (RBDMP). You will ensure that our advice to water companies reflects Natural England strategic ambitions and integrates with other programmes including Natural Course Life IP and other large infrastructure projects for example HS2 and will ensure the work is embedded and communicated across the team. You will also help to develop the skills of others in the team and support other infrastructure projects as required.