32286 - Biodiversity Technical Officer

Environment Agency; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agency in the UK is seeking a motivated Biodiversity Officer to deliver technical support for biodiversity and geomorphology projects. This role involves providing guidance, promoting stakeholder engagement, and helping to ensure compliance with legislation. The ideal candidate will have a degree in a relevant field and be passionate about biodiversity, with strong communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders. Additional support for incident response training will be provided.

Qualifications

• Qualified to degree standard in a relevant discipline.
• Ability to provide guidance for compliance with Environment Agency policies.
• Knowledge of stakeholder engagement techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality biodiversity technical advice.
• Engage with staff and build trusted networks.
• Respond to incidents and support business continuity.

Skills

Guidance on compliance with legislation

Stakeholder engagement

Wetland and river conservation knowledge

Understanding biodiversity policies

Communication skills on biodiversity

Innovative working approaches

Education

Degree in relevant discipline

Job description

We are committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We promote equality and diversity in all that we do and particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.), disabled, female, and LGBT+ candidates who are under‑represented across our workforce.

The Biodiversity and Geomorphology team are looking for an enthusiastic Biodiversity Officer to provide advice, guidance, and technical support within the Hertfordshire and North London area.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual, with proven technical and inter‑personal skills, to be part of a friendly and hardworking team. You'll be responsible for covering a wide geographical area, providing high quality biodiversity technical advice.

You will provide input into a range of projects. You will help identify, design, and deliver a programme of mitigation and restoration activities in surface waters to deliver measurable environmental outcomes. Your work with operational staff will ensure we prevent or minimise ecological impacts from our own activities and those we regulate.

You will proactively engage staff throughout the EA, communicating with colleagues internally and externally to successfully build trusted networks and strong partnerships to maximise delivery.

You will keep up to date on changing legislation and best practice in order to inform internal priorities and direction. We’d aim to shape the job in a way that builds on your strengths and interests and reflects the developing needs of the business.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role. This may attract an additional payment.

The team

The team has a vast amount of biodiversity expertise, and you’ll be offered mentoring and development opportunities. We cover a diverse range of environments including urban and rural catchments.

The team plays a pivotal role in supporting the organisation to achieve biodiversity and ecological objectives. We screen and advise on internal plans/projects for potential biodiversity and geomorphology impacts, ensuring compliance with legislation. We deliver multiple benefits through river basin management and flood risk management.

Experience/skills required

You’ll be qualified to degree standard (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline and have the ability and knowledge to:

• Provide guidance to ensure compliance with Environment Agency policy and current legislation.
• Apply influencing skills and knowledge of stakeholder engagement techniques to work with both internal and external teams and partners.
• Provide knowledge of wetland and river conservation and legislation relating to wildlife and designated sites, and an understanding of policies relating to biodiversity.
• Achieve outcomes in line with the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
• Be a passionate and confident biodiversity champion, understanding it’s importance and being able to communicate this to others.
• Be open to innovative ways of working, especially new opportunities to work with nature.

We seek to develop and influence partnerships and organisations to help meet the objectives of the WFD and 25 Year Environment Plan.