Lead Adviser - Cumbria Area Team

This position is based at Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith

Our vision: Thriving Nature for People and Planet

Natural England is a unique organisation.  As the statutory advisor for the natural environment we play a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.  We have an amazing wealth of knowledge and data about nature, and we bring organisations together nationally and locally to agree the right solutions for people and nature.

Our mission is to Build Partnerships for Nature’s Recovery - to work with a wide range of people and organisations to take the action required to rebuild a sustainable environment.  We seek to achieve our vision and aims through four strategic programmes:

• Resilient Landscapes and Seas - protecting and restoring wildlife and natural beauty for future generations.
• Sustainable Development - creating great places for people to live and work.
• Greener Farming and Fisheries – supporting those who manage land and sea to operate in harmony with the environment.
• Connecting People with Nature - promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors.

Cumbria

In 2020 the Cumbria area team has an ambitious plan to help create a nature recovery network across the county, connect people better with nature, and provide our best advice on proposed developments across the region. 

The Cumbria area team is organised to provide advice and advocacy through teams that combine a deep understanding of Cumbria’s biodiversity and culture-rich landscapes with the ability to initiate and sustain effective partnerships.  

There are four teams which are focused on distinctive areas:

• Border & Eden
• Lake District
• Solway Coast
• South Cumbria

We also work closely with the England Coast Path (Northwest) team, which is a dedicated project team focussed on improving public access to the coast by delivering over 600km of the England Coast Path from the Scottish to the Welsh border.

We have a collaborative ethos.  We seek to maximise delivery by integrating our skills, expertise and influence with that held by our partners, to deliver across the county.  Everyone in the Cumbria area team will work across NE teams and with people in the wider Cumbria community. 

Role Description

General

We are seeking to recruit a number of Lead Advisers in order to strengthen our capabilities across our four strategic programmes.  In particular we are looking to enhance our capacity to deliver evidence-based solutions to promote Resilient Landscapes and Seas and Greener Farming and Fisheries.

Key Tasks

As a Lead Adviser working in Natural England your role would include:

• Promoting nature conservation and protecting biodiversity.
• Working with farmers, landowners and other interested parties to conserve and enhance the landscape, and facilitate change through the Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship schemes.
• Working with farmers, landowners, public bodies and other government agencies providing advice on how to manage and improve the quality of protected sites (NNRs, SSSI, SAC, AONB etc).
• Conduct monitoring and condition assessments of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
• Providing advice through the planning system (NE statutory consultee) to ensure the needs of semi-natural habitats and species are addressed in development activities and that the Net Gain principle is utilised.
• Responding to CRoW Act, The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, Environmental Damage Regulations and Agricultural EIA casework

The candidate

We are looking for people who have a broad combination of technical skills and experience in an environmental discipline.  Applicants should have a Degree in an environmental discipline or significant experience in working in the environmental sector.

There are a range of roles requiring specific skill sets from the list below and we will assign successful candidates to roles accordingly:

• A broad understanding of England’s biodiversity commitments along with knowledge of relevant European Directives, associated UK/England Regulations, including the legislation relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest. 
  • An understanding of managing land for environmental outcomes coupled with a knowledge of farming systems and examples of influencing land managers and owners through negotiation.  Previous experience of agri-environmental schemes such as Environmental Stewardship or Countryside Stewardship would be highly advantageous.
  • Knowledge of and (ideally) experience of working within the statutory planning process and how nature is accommodated within the system locally or nationally.  Experience of enforcement and/or high-risk regulatory casework is desirable.
  • Ecological knowledge of one or more habitats or species groups.  Experience in field survey, including species identification (to FISC level 3 for botanical surveys) and data interpretation, is required for some roles.  A broader appreciation of ecological principles and habitats/species is desirable.

For further information, and to apply please visit the Civil Service Jobs page here.