Planning Senior Adviser

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 you do, then a career at Natural England could be for you.

It’s our responsibility to independently advise the UK Government on the natural environment. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. From advising farmers on sustainable land management, to gathering and analysing environmental data, and promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors, we love what we do. Join us and you’ll be part of an inclusive, motivated and ambitious team, committed to achieving results for our environment, for everyone.

As Planning Senior Adviser, you’ll join the new Flexible Casework Team, which is focused on handling our portfolio of highest priority development and infrastructure casework and delivering better environmental outcomes and customer service. As other planning casework emerges, the team’s portfolio will flex and change to ensure we’re managing cases of the highest priority. You’ll work on major developments and infrastructure casework on land and sea, play an important part in shaping Natural England’s responses, and help to secure sustainable development and opportunities for the natural environment.

Your key responsibilities will be many and various, and include providing technical advice to support the effective case handling and delivery of timely and evidence-based advice of major infrastructure and other planning casework, including offshore wind. This will involve working with lead advisers, national specialists, principal advisers and managers, and engaging with key partners and customers to ensure effective stakeholder relationships. You’ll provide advice on cases including environmental impact and habitat regulations assessments, offer guidance in the resolution of specific issues, help to identify risks and issues, and support area teams in the effective use of cost recovery practices to ensure they’re supporting their costs.

To be a success in this role, you’ll be educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or possess an equivalent level of applied experience. You should have substantial technical expertise of the town and country planning system, legislation, national policy and guidance, and be skilled at assessing the environmental impacts of large complex developments and spatial plans. It’s essential that you possess a good understanding of the natural environment including ecology, biodiversity, landscape and soils, while knowledge of domestic policies, legislative frameworks and drivers for the marine environment, coastal zones and marine protected areas would be desirable.

With the ability to work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders to identify and secure opportunities that deliver gains for people and nature, you’ll be capable of identifying and applying relevant planning and environmental legislation, policies and processes to deliver effective evidence-based solutions. An inspirational team worker, always ready to share your expertise with others, and capable of making decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence, you’ll also have the skills to deliver work that meets agreed deadlines.

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and, wherever possible, we accommodate requests for both full and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns.

Everyone at Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You can also look forward to great benefits including a Civil Service pension.

If you’re inspired to protect and enhance England’s wildlife and want to work for a leading science-led organisation, apply here.

Closing date: 11:55 pm on Monday 21st November 2022