Senior Adviser Marine and Offshore Windfarm Development

This is a vacancy based at the Natural England office in Newcastle upon Tyne, and is located in the Northumbria Area Team, which covers the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teeside.

Northumbria has a rich natural heritage that includes stretches of rugged coastline, extensive upland tracts and industrial and arable lowlands.

It covers 8,676 km² and has a population of 2.6 million.
Over 70% of the population live in the 3 main urban conurbations of Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside.

Two thirds of the area is rural, but only 10% of people live here, making it one of the most sparsely populated areas in the country.

One third of the area is designated as Northumberland National Park, Heritage Coast and the Northumberland Coast and North Pennines AONBs.

There are 2 World Heritage Sites (Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s Wall) and 3 National Trails (Hadrian’s Wall Path, Pennine Way and the Cleveland Way).
Our NNRs attract over 825,000 visitors per year.


Job description

This Senior Adviser role is based at the NE Newcastle office, within the Northumbria Area Team. Marine and offshore windfarm work covers the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Teesside and offshore waters, delivering outcomes for the marine environment. There is a range of work which will include complex marine casework based around providing statutory consultation responses about developments affecting the marine environment. This role will particularly focus on statutory and chargeable work for offshore windfarm developments, which could include areas other than the North East, and working proactively with relevant stakeholders.

Travel will be required throughout Northumberland, County Durham, and Teesside, and occasionally to other NE offices and sites.

The role will based at the Newcastle office, and a driving licence is essential.

The role holder will:

Provide leadership on complex casework in the marine and coastal environment, and specifically in relation to chargeable and statutory Offshore Windfarm Development work, acting as Senior Responsible Officer on high risk issues.

Act as a key reference point and a source of detailed expertise, objective advice and practical approaches to deliver environmental outcomes for the marine environment through casework.

Provide advice and expertise in relation to developments within or affecting marine and coastal designations.
Provide Senior Adviser-level support and guidance on offshore ornithology issues within Natural England’s renewables network

Support our marine and coastal case officers by providing technical guidance, direction, work planning and training.
Build our marine evidence base by undertaking in house and externally contracted projects building strong partnerships with other agencies, organisations and academic institutions.
Manage risks and issues, escalating to the national team and area team management where appropriate.

Build the knowledge base and profile of our marine work in Northumbria both within Natural England and with the general public.

Contribute to the Northumbria Leadership Team by bringing subject leadership to the development and delivery of local plans

Have a proactive and project management approach to work delivery.

Be strategic in thinking and actions.

Show innovation and creativity in finding solutions and encourage team members to do the same in their day-to-day work.

Be proactive and self-driven, spotting and exploring opportunities and bringing them to fruition.

Demonstrate leadership.

Competencies

Competence 1
Professional competency

Detail

If you are successful we would expect you to be working to a certain level in a range of activities described in the skills framework for this role. At the interview you will be asked questions to see how close you are to this level in the following capabilities and activities
Work Delivery -Practitioner

Description

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

Competence 2
Professional competency

Detail
Creating resilient landscapes and seas – Practitioner

Description

• Understand how natural processes, land/sea management and use impact the conservation and management of geodiversity, the marine and historic environment
• Understand the environmental value of designated sites and explain that to partners, stakeholders and customers.
• Identify and apply relevant planning and environmental legislation and policy (European, national, and local) when giving advice, and contribute to consenting/licensing/ permitting decisions as appropriate. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of marine pressures, impacts, management and mitigation in order to set clear and practical aims for sea users and regulators and/or inform decisions/actions/novel approaches relating to your role.
• Provide evidence based advice and expertise using your knowledge of an area of marine biology, ecology and processes e.g. offshore ornithology or other technical expertise that relates to your role.
• Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment.

Competence 3
Professional competency

Detail
Putting people at the heart of the environment (Practitioner)

Description

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

Competence 4
Professional competency

Detail
Personal effectiveness (Expert)

Description

• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act.
• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement.
• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective.
• Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together.

Competence 5
Professional competency

Detail
Technical (Practitioner)

Description

• A degree in marine ecology, or marine biology, or marine conservation management, or equivalent degree; and relevant experience.
• A good understanding of UK coastal and marine ecology with experience of managing complex issues on the coast for example through environmental impact assessment or conservation projects.
• An understanding of environmental legislation specifically that related to protected sites. In particular, understand the use of Habitats Regulations, Marine & Coastal Access Act and Wildlife & Countryside Act.
• Knowledge and experience of coastal and marine ornithology.
• Knowledge of marine/coastal industries such as renewable energy, ports, dredging, and other development, and their interactions with marine/coastal habitats, species and birds.
• Knowledge of current European and domestic policies, legislative frameworks and drivers for the marine environment and coastal zone, combined with a practical understanding of UK Marine Protected Areas and the roles and responsibilities of key marine and coastal stakeholders.
• Experience of applied knowledge and evidence to providing expert advice to customers and stakeholders, ideally relevant to marine and coastal protected sites e.g. for designation, monitoring or casework.
• Effective communications skills (verbal and written) in conveying complex and/or difficult messages/concepts to a variety of audiences.

Responsibilities

Please refer to Job Description