Senior Specialist - Marine Ornithology

The team

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change;
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing.

We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

Job description

You will be based in the Science Directorate, which is a team of specialists who support the organisation in their ambitions to be evidence-led and driven by science.

We lead on the development and application of natural, economic and social science and evidence to underpin and enable the achievement of environmental outcomes both within Natural England and externally.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Marine Ornithology specialist to join the birds team in Natural England and to work alongside our ornithology specialists to deliver advice across the organisation.

Ornithology specialists in the team provide casework advice to support sustainable development, as well as advising on designations, conservation advice and condition assessment of protected sites.

Offshore wind expansion is a cornerstone of the strategy to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets and the role of our marine ornithologists is to work with industry and government to facilitate the sustainable development of offshore windfarms whilst protecting nature and specifically our sea birds.

Whilst the main focus of the role is to provide advice in the offshore renewable energy sector, the role is varied and you will also be involved in providing advice relating to a broad range of activities in the marine environment. You will be involved in contributing towards Natural England’s evolving evidence led guidance, strategies and wider initiatives to overcome barriers for nature recovery.

Key Tasks and Accountabilities

This role will focus on taking commissions from across the organisation for specialist ornithological advice, ensuring the needs of birds are fully considered and that evidence is quality assured. This will include planning casework/NSIPs and protected site work.

Work across the ornithological team which the post holder may also contribute to includes;

• Build, analyse and apply the avian evidence base to inform support and advice, identifying any risks associated with the evidence. Including identifying emerging issues and opportunities.
• Engage and contribute to the teams work around the species recovery and reintroduction agenda.
• Prioritise monitoring and research for birds; secure funding, design and manage projects (both internally and with partners/contractors) and follow procurement procedures.
• Build ornithological capability within the organisation and team, including playing a role in internal networks.
• Represent Natural England as an expert and build relationships with key experts, stakeholders and academic institutions.

The ideal candidate will be qualified to at least BSc level in a biological discipline, or, can demonstrate equivalent experience. Post graduate qualification is desirable but not essential.

Benefits

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan.

Locations

Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week.
Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office.

National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office.
View a map of our office locations here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations

Pay

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.

How to Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview.

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical Skills and Knowledge
• Personal effectiveness
• Putting people at the heart
• Work delivery

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your doing so.

Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.

Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Technical Skills and Knowledge

(You do not need to answer in the STAR format)

A clear understanding of the ornithological science and evidence base, how to apply the evidence to provide ornithological advice on planning/protected site projects and identify evidence gaps (Essential)
• Knowledge of policies, legislative frameworks, and drivers for the marine and coastal environment, combined with an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in ornithological field. (Essential)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Personal Effectiveness

• Research, produce and contribute to specialist products such as articles, think pieces, peer reviewed papers, reports and conference presentations for general and technical readerships, both internal and external (Expert)

Competence 3

Professional competency

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 the organisation you represent (Practitioner)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Work Delivery

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert)

• 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%

Job contact :

Name :
Fiona Neale
Email :
fiona.neale@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone :
07879 430358

Recruitment team

Email :
defra-recruitment-enquiries@gov.sscl.com