Sustainable Development Higher Officer - ( Ref : 6687 )

Natural England; Ashford, Worthing; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Natural England seeks an experienced planning specialist to advise on environmental impacts of Local Plans and major projects across England. The role involves working with area teams, stakeholders, and developers to protect biodiversity and landscapes.

You will support nature recovery, advise on NSIPs, and contribute to strategic approaches that reduce environmental risk while enabling sustainable development. Some travel may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in land use planning and delivering complex projects.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of environmental protection legislation in England.
• Ability to work with diverse partners and stakeholders.
• Experience with Local Plans and planning systems is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide statutory advice to Local Planning Authorities on the environmental impacts and opportunities of planning proposals and Local Plans.
• Provide advice on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Coordinate across Natural England to deliver high-risk and high-opportunity plans and casework.
• Build partnerships with developers and stakeholders to resolve complex planning issues to support nature recovery.
• Ensure timely, high-quality, legally sound advice to authorities and developers in the Area Team geography.

Skills

Land use planning

Project management

Written and verbal communications

Policy interpretation

Ecology knowledge

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent qualification

Job description

This position is based at Ashford or Worthing.

Job Description

Do you want to make a real difference, working in a high priority area, securing significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in and leading a team? If so, this role may interest you as an opportunity to create a better future for people and nature.

The roles are based across England in our Area Teams. Some travel may be required.

Natural England’s Area Teams 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 within its area.

Natural England’s new Strategy includes making a shift from isolated interventions to nature recovery happening at scale, ensuring our efforts deliver lasting improvement across whole landscapes and seascapes. As part of this, our sustainable development work is helping build better places, and ensure nature is designed into development and investment plans from the outset to strengthen communities and benefit growth.

These roles will contribute to Natural England’s sustainable development delivery, with a focus on securing nature recovery and long-term environmental benefits. The roles will need the flexibility to advise on local plans and spatial development strategies as well as high risk and high opportunity development cases. The work will include supporting the development of new strategic approaches to manage environmental pressures and building strong relationships with developers so that nature is planned in from the start to streamline development and reduce risk.

You will be delivering the Government’ new Environmental Improvement Plan by advising Local Planning Authorities on the environmental impacts of Local Plans and individual planning applications. You will also help to develop new approaches to manage pressures like recreational disturbance and water pollution.

By engaging early with major developments, we have the opportunity to work collaboratively to avoid negative impacts to the natural environment, provide appropriate mitigation and secure large scale environmental outcomes which benefit nature and people’s connection with nature.

This is a rewarding role with fantastic opportunities to secure positive environmental outcomes on the ground and to further our Nature Recovery Network. You will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of high-profile cases that will lead to positive outcomes for the natural world.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

• Providing statutory advice to Local Planning Authorities and other statutory consulters on the environmental impacts and opportunities of planning proposals and Local Plans.
• Providing advice on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Working to deliver High Risk and High Opportunity plans and casework, coordinating the provision of advice from across Natural England, building expertise to deliver quality-assured and robust advice on major plans and projects.
• Build partnerships with customers and stakeholders to resolve complex planning issues to support nature recovery, often through use of chargeable services that support better environmental outcomes. Supporting NE nature recovery goals including use of net gain, nutrient mitigation plans, provision of high quality green and blue infrastructure, and creating opportunities for better connections between people and nature.
• Ensure individual casework targets for consultations are met and record all actions. Delivering timely, high quality, pragmatic and legally sound advice to authorities and developers in the Area Team geography.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A good knowledge of, and experience in, land use planning
• Strong planning, prioritisation, and organisational ability to manage complex delivery areas with competing demands.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Robust and current knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance and how to apply and interpret it to NE’s activities and duties.
• Strong understanding of environmental protection in England and the legislation that underpins it.
• Demonstrable experience of UK ecology with a broad understanding of priority habitats and species.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification and experience. (Essential)
• Applied knowledge and/or experience of using the planning system to secure positive outcomes for landscapes, people and nature, including nature recovery, landscape enhancement, and the delivery of green and blue infrastructure (Essential)
• Knowledge and/or practical experience of strategic planning, development management and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), including application of the Habitats Regulations and associated environmental legislation, to provide pragmatic and proportionate advice that facilitates sustainable development (Essential)
• Strong ecological and landscape expertise, including habitats, protected species and designated sites, providing technical advice on environmental impacts, mitigation, compensation and landscape-scale enhancement opportunities, with a clear understanding of contributions to Local Nature Recovery Strategies and other strategies (Essential)
• Proven ability to lead the establishment of, and sustain, collaborative partnerships with developers, planning authorities, statutory bodies and wider stakeholders to secure positive environmental outcomes and deliver practical, evidence-based solutions (Desirable)

Personal Effectiveness

• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (Practitioner)
• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Practitioner)
• Progress your personal development and take responsibility for keeping your knowledge and expertise current (Practitioner)

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England (Practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (Practitioner)
• Understand and explain the outcomes that we seek in your local patch and how these fit in with local and national issues (Basic)

Work Delivery

• Consider the financial implications of your work and seek income from our products and services (Practitioner)
• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures (Practitioner)
• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner)