We are the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England, helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services they provide.
Natural England is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Team
Our fantastic team is responsible for delivering environmental outcomes across Norfolk and Suffolk. We use a range of mechanisms including land management and planning advice, engagement with stakeholders and direct management of our own land, to achieve the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and landscapes. We are uniquely placed, amongst our partners, to be able to blend regulation, incentives and advice to create positive land use change and nature's recovery and are passionate about doing so.
As a Team we aim to work flexibly and support each other and collaborate with others across the region to increase awareness and appreciation of our landscapes and wildlife. Our successful delivery of nature recovery will rely on us explaining the benefits people derive from our special marine environment, fantastic landscapes and helping people and local communities grow and nurture connection with their natural environment.
As a member of the Area Leadership Team (ALT) you will lead the delivery of our team’s Protected Sites (PS) programme. Our PS work is central to nature recovery in our area and you will be visionary and innovative in its development. You will also play a key role leading complex and high risk PS casework within the team. You will role model the organisational values, demonstrating visible and accessible leadership and support for staff. You will be flexible and willing to adapt both your role and the focus of the programme as priorities evolve.
Key tasks
• Engage the team in the future direction of Natural England and the ambitions of the Conservation Strategy and Defra 25YEP.
• Lead the development and delivery of a PS monitoring programme for freshwater, terrestrial and estuarine sites.
• Lead the SSSI recovery trajectory programme to improve condition of our PS.
• Work closely with other Senior Advisers in the team including Catchment Sensitive Farming, National Nature Reserves, Water, Farmland Conservation & Nature Recovery Networks to ensure integration and that our PS are at the heart of Nature Recovery Networks in Norfolk and Suffolk.
• Coordinate the teams annual Integrated Business Planning bid for both specialist time and financial resources to improve the condition of our PS.
• Oversee SSSI casework delivery and enforcement; ensuring our advice meets statutory deadlines, complies with current guidance is recorded on CSMi.
• Oversee Shoreline Management Plans and flood defence/coastal protection consultations.
• Act as Senior Responsible Officer for high risk casework acting as case escalation, supporting case officers in decision making, and building their capability to manage complex cases.
• Build and manage external relationships for example with conservation NGOs, regulatory bodies, community groups, stakeholders and local authorities to enable and support the delivery of shared aims and objectives, and to actively seek new projects to deliver our outcomes.
• Be an active member of key internal networks with other Area and National Teams to fully understand nationally developed commissions, to grow your own knowledge base and share that with colleagues within the team.
• Act as Area Team Lead for Resilient Landscapes and Seas Programme, feeding in to and communicating developments ensuring that it is well understood by the team.
• Champion reform to PS work to deliver an improved service within our resource constraints.
• Contribute to NE’s business planning and commissioning process, monitor delivery in year ensuring that it is in line with the Area Team allocation and all resources are being fully utilised.
• Work alongside Team Leaders to ensure Advisers are clear on PS priorities and work is allocated and resources assigned across the area as and when required, making best use of skills available.
• Ensure Sustainable Development staff have access to PS advice to support timely and robust responses to consultations from Regulators.
• Work with Team Leaders to grow the team capability and capacity for delivering our PS work within the team by leading on a development programme which could include webinars, site based training, coaching and mentoring.
• Provide technical leadership on habitats and species. Ideally would have coastal and terrestrial expertise, but can develop.
• Ensure our advice is recognised and where appropriate paid for through Discretionary Advice Service.
• Make best use of all available evidence, fully understand current thinking and apply a broad knowledge of Natural England’s purpose when resolving problems, considering new approaches, testing options and using your judgement in making recommendations or determining appropriate action.
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