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Role Description
Role title: Sustainable Development Lead Adviser
Staff Framework level: Lead Adviser
Reporting to: Cat Laverick (Team Leader)
Team and Location: Ashford (preferred) or Worthing may be considered
Hours per week: 37 (Full Time)
It is Natural England’s policy to accommodate both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible
working patterns.
Short-listing and Interview dates:
Key tasks/principal accountabilities
Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment in England,
helping to protect England’s nature and landscapes for people to enjoy and for the services
they provide.
Natural England’s purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved,
enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby
contributing to sustainable development.
The Sussex and Kent Area Team
The iconic landscapes of Sussex and Kent include the high chalk outcrops of the North and
South Downs, through agricultural lands, on to the rich coastal and marine habitats
surrounding these counties. At the heart of this area is the High Weald, one of the best
surviving medieval landscapes in northern Europe and home to diverse ancient woodland.
Much of our work is at a landscape-scale, focusing on key areas where we will get the best
environmental outcomes for people and wildlife. Our Sustainable Development work is a
key part of this approach, working closely with land management, wildlife licensing, coastal
access, and marine colleagues to help secure strategic approaches and solutions that
ensure our wildlife, habitats, and landscapes are able to flourish.
By focusing on what we want to achieve, and working closely with local authorities,
landowners and other partners, we aim to develop shared objectives that will secure a
healthy environment, economy and society.
The Role
You will work as part of a team of colleagues across Sussex and Kent, leading on our
engagement with local planning authorities to help shape their local plans, providing advice
to developers and regulators, and securing environmental enhancements to benefit our
landscape-scale focus areas. The role will have a particular focus on our work in Kent, and
you will have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of high profile cases as well as help
ensure our Sustainable Development work is fully integrated into our focus areas approach.
We are looking for someone with an environmental background, with a good understanding
of the potential impacts of development on the natural environment, and a desire to work
with others to find solutions that deliver positive environmental outcomes.
You don’t have to currently be in a planning role but it would be helpful to have an
understanding of environmental legislation and the planning system.
In return we can offer the right candidate:

Flexible working

A generous annual leave package of 33 days

10 learning and development days

Along with a range of other benefits
The role includes:

Providing clear, pragmatic, evidence-based advice to partners, customers and
colleagues on a wide range of sustainable development issues, and achieving
solutions that result in positive environmental outcomes.

Building partnerships with customers and stakeholders to resolve complex planning
issues and develop collaborative strategic approaches that will conserve and enhance
the natural environment.

Working closely with colleagues in other areas of the organisation, including land
management, licencing and marine, to provide an integrated service for our
customers.

Participating in relevant internal networks to ensure personal development and the
timely exchange of information and best practice to identify more effective ways of
working.
Technical / specialist skills and knowledge

A relevant degree (e.g. environmental studies, planning, ecology, geography, or
similar) or alternative qualification and/or suitable relevant experience.
.

Knowledge and experience of applying relevant legislation to ensure protection and
environmental gain for designated sites and protected landscapes and species,
including Habitats Regulations Assessments and Environmental Impact
Assessments.

A good understanding of the planning system and the development plan process.

Experience of working in partnership with others to achieve good outcomes.

A broad understanding of Natural England’s purpose and objectives.

A demonstrable ability to learn new areas of expertise in order to fulfil the tasks
relevant to the post.
Key Capabilities
If you are successful we would expect you to be working to a certain level in a range of
activities described in the Natural England 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:
Securing Environmental Improvements [Practitioner)

Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of
environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for
enhancing the natural environment.

Provide advice on the need for and scope of environmental assessments (e.g.
Habitats Regulations Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments).

Provide effective advice on spatial plans, policies and developments as appropriate to
your role.
Personal effectiveness [Practitioner]

Suggest innovations and reforms to improve the way your team and Natural England
operates.
Providing customer service [Practitioner]

Understand customer needs and constraints, using this knowledge to inform decisions
and make the reasons behind our decision clear to the customer.
Building Partnerships – [Practitioner]

Identify, and act on, opportunities to build and maintain effective partnerships with
stakeholders and work collaboratively to ensure positive outcomes for Sustainable
Development.
Additional information
A Driving License is desirable for the role but not essential.
Flexible working patterns will generally be accommodated unless stated otherwise.
Candidates with disabilities will automatically be put forward to the interview stage provided that
they satisfy the minimum criteria for the role.
Closing date:
Job contact (vacancy manager):
Pippa Botley
email: [email protected]
Tel: 07770 314918
Alternative contact:
Marian Ashdown
email: [email protected]
Tel: 07970 770731