Planning and Infrastructure Senior Policy Advisor

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

- 255027**Salary**:

- £37,295 - £44,724- National £37,295 - £41,425 London £40,262 - £44,724 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- DEFRA - ERM - Environment Strategy - Land Use**Type of role**:

- Policy**Working pattern**:

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

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, YorkAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Government is committed to becoming the first generation to leave the environment in a better condition than it found it, and the 25 Year Plan for the Environment sets out the policies we will introduce to achieve this ambitious objective. Our role as part of Defra’s Land Use Division is to meet the Government’s commitment to deliver the homes, infrastructure, and energy supply the country needs, by putting the environment at the heart of the planning process.

Based in Defra’s Environment Strategy Directorate, this is an exciting role helping to drive forward Defra’s interests in multiple cross-government planning and infrastructure initiatives and initiate our own.

**Job description**:
The planning system for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) is undergoing a step change to deliver on commitments to build back better, faster and greener, as set out in the National Infrastructure Strategy. Large-scale projects offer a huge opportunity to deliver better outcomes for environment and nature. It is critical that the policies that govern these projects are set up with the environment in mind, to ensure these outcomes are realized.

Nutrient pollution is a significant issue affecting our protected sites for nature, which in turn is impacting on government’s ability to deliver the homes this country needs. Government recently launched a world-leading Nutrient Mitigation Scheme which will unblock housing by delivering nature-based solutions in partnership with environmental groups and land managers.

We are supporting delivery of these significant reforms through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, currently in Parliament. This gives us the opportunity to create and implement policies that will help local areas to plan for and deliver projects that improve the environment.

**Person specification**:
Duties could include:

- Influencing other departments and their policies to protect and enhance the environment while increasing the delivery of critical housing and infrastructure.
- Working collaboratively and at pace with other Defra teams, Arms-Length Bodies, and other government departments to implement policy by identifying, solving and escalating issues and risks.
- Building a strong network of stakeholders, both within government and industry, to ensure projects are successful and Defra’s priorities are reflected.
- Creating an inclusive and high performing working culture which respects the diversity of individuals’ backgrounds and needs.
- Developing and implementing plans to ensure Defra’s Arms-Length Bodies are equipped with the skills and resource required to ensure the environment is on strong footing in the planning system.
- Managing large funds to deliver a series of projects to accelerate and increase environmental enhancement through the planning system.
- Leading development of evidenced advice to Ministers and businesses cases to senior leaders.

**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Working Together
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace

**Benefits**:

- 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 average employer contribution of 27%

**Pension**

**Civil Service Sports Council**
The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Your CSSC membership will provide you with FREE access to hundreds of national and local sites, in addition to savings at many high street stores, cinemas, restaurants and historic houses.

**Leave**
25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years’ service, in addition to eight public holidays. We also offer:
- Competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave;
- Study leave for the pursuit of academic studies;
- 3 days paid leave for volunteering per annum;
- 15 days paid leave per year for reservist training; and,
- Generous paid sick leave.

**Cycle to Work Scheme**
Defra loans you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period, you have the option to