Northern Upland Conservation Lead Advisers (x 20)

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of our Northern Uplands. Natural England requires staff who will be offered Fixed Term Appointments to help deliver our uplands programme, Countryside Stewardship and provide support to our Area Team delivery programme.

Role description

As a Lead Adviser you will be supporting our Area Teams to deliver our ambitions in the uplands through our Conservation Strategy. Our Lead Advisers work with partners, stakeholders and land managers to deliver outcomes aimed at creating resilient landscapes, growing natural capital and putting people at the heart of the environment.

The post holder will have a primary focus on the development and design of Upland Long Term Plans working with landowners, partners and agents to secure agreements which deliver lasting conservation outcomes for upland habitats.

We are seeking a range of skills and knowledge to support our Area Teams and these will include ecology, negotiation, mapping and upland land management. You will be a team player and be able to work with a range of staff in local and national teams. We are looking for flexible and adaptable individuals with effective communication skills who will be able to lead and progress projects, developing shared outcomes with a range of partners that deliver a real difference for landowners and the natural environment.

Successful candidates will:

• Show leadership and work constructively with colleagues and external partners to secure shared environmental outcomes and help others meet their own objectives.

• Develop and maintain partnerships with a range of stakeholders including local communities, landowners, famers, graziers and land managers, to achieve our desired outcomes and foster a real sense of stewardship for the natural environment.

• Develop upland land management plans.

• Develop and manage Agri-Environment agreements.

• Be involved in effective and sustainable management of protected sites

• Visit estates, sites and farms to gather data and talk to stakeholders.

It is Natural England’s policy to accommodate both full-time and other flexible working patterns.

Skills and knowledge

We will endeavour to match your skills to provide a balanced delivery team, so not all skills will be an essential attribute.

Technical/specialist knowledge/qualifications

• Good communication skills including the ability to explain technical information to a range of audiences and engage with local stakeholders.

• Experience in effective partnership working.

• Facilitation and negotiation skills.

• An understanding of Agri-Environment schemes, their objectives and management.

• Ecological skills and the ability to identify and advise on habitat and species management for a variety of upland habitats.

• Some knowledge and understanding of hill farming systems would be an advantage.

• Competence in the use of IT, including ability to work with spreadsheets, databases & presentation packages (experience of Geographic Information Systems is desirable but not essential).

Key Competencies:

Securing environmental improvements - Practitioner

• Be able to prioritise often competing opportunities for delivering different environmental outcomes and interpret strategic direction into local circumstances.
• Recognise, identify and interpret environmental features such as priority habitats and species.

Communicating effectively – Practitioner

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques which engage your audience.

Building partnerships - Practitioner

• Collaborate, negotiate and influence in a well-informed and timely way (in line with customer service standards) to achieve pragmatic outcomes.
• Develop an understanding of the objectives and needs of our partners and customers and how we can contribute to these.
  

Work Delivery - Practitioner

• Manage and deliver your workload in line with the Area Team’s environmental objectives, working as a team to share your resource and expertise to achieve this.
• Be focused, but retain flexibility to delivery under tight timescales and be able to work to set guidelines.

Personal effectiveness - Practitioner

• A self-starter and strong team player.
• Share knowledge and information, helping to build your networks and increase your understanding and that of others.  Apply here.