Overview
You may also provide line management, supporting capability, wellbeing and performance, and helping to build a positive, inclusive and learning focused team culture. You may be asked to work on other programmes of work as required. Line management experience would be an advantage but is not essential. You’ll have access to a range of development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided.
The Environment Agency are committed to having an inclusive workforce, reflecting the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.
Do you want to join the Environment Agency to shape and support the role it plays in spatial planning and nature recovery?
We are recruiting a Senior Advisor within our national Planning and Place team, leading and shaping our work on nature recovery through the spatial planning system. This is an important role at the heart of how we enable growth and development to deliver better outcomes for nature, climate resilience and environmental capacity.
Key Responsibilities
* Leading the Environment Agency’s spatial planning approach to nature recovery.
* Shaping legislation, policy and guidance, including leading Government consultation responses; with a current focus on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
* Managing work programmes, including governance, budget planning and reporting.
* Supporting our cross organisation thinking on nature recovery led growth, including alignment with our operational teams and key national programme leads, and supporting consistent implementation approaches.
* Supporting work of the team on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS).
* Collaborating with colleagues across national policy teams to strengthen alignment between nature recovery and other spatial planning policies, including BNG, LNRS, Nature Restoration Fund/Environmental Delivery Plans, climate adaptation plans, and wider planning and investment programmes.
* Building organisational capability on spatial planning and nature recovery through guidance, tools, training, communications and technical advice.
* Acting as a proactive and influential partner with Government, arm’s‑length bodies, local authorities and sector networks to drive nature‑positive, place‑based growth.
You may also provide line management, supporting capability, wellbeing and performance, and helping to build a positive, inclusive and learning focused team culture.
You may be asked to work on other programmes of work as required.
The Team
You’ll join our supportive and professional Planning and Place Team within the Environment & Business Directorate. We lead on sustainable places and integrated environmental and spatial planning; technical leadership; and workforce planning for Sustainable Places.
In Environment & Business we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued. While geographically dispersed, we excel at remote collaboration and work and collaborate in person at our offices across the country.
Experience/Skills Required
We are looking for candidates with a strong mix of skills and experience, including:
* Strong understanding of nature recovery and environmental legislation and policy, and the ability to translate this into practical tools, guidance and ways of working.
* Knowledge and experience of Biodiversity Net Gain and other nature recovery policies in practice.
* Good understanding of the spatial planning system and how it can be used to support environmental outcomes.
* Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, including with senior policy leads.
* Experience working in the environment or planning sector, or ability to demonstrate relevant transferable skills.
* Project/programme management experience.
* Ability to prioritise and manage complex workloads.
* Confidence working independently and collaboratively.
* Flexible and adaptable mindset, with the ability to respond positively to changing priorities.
Line management experience would be an advantage but is not essential.
You’ll have access to a range of development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided.
Contact and Additional Information
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Please read the Packs attached for information. Any queries, contact christopher.rowett@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams approximately two weeks after the closing date.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Competences
Competence 1 — Shapes organisational approach & delivery
Description: Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment.
Question: Please tell us about a time when you worked across multiple teams, departments or organisations to inform or shape policy relevant to spatial planning, environmental regulation or nature recovery, and to support its translation into practical delivery. What was your role, how did you influence the approach taken, and what impact did this have on outcomes?
Competence 2 — Influences and Persuades Others
Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Describe a time when you successfully influenced a key stakeholder to change their position on a major project or piece of work. How did you approach this, why did you choose that approach, and what was the outcome in terms of actions or behaviours?
Competence 3 — Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
Question: Give an example of when you have had to make a timely decision based on incomplete or evolving information.
* What was the situation?
* What were the key factors?
* How did you make your decision?
* What was the outcome?
* Would you do it differently another time?
Competence 4 — Achieves Results
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
Question: Please describe a time when you overcame significant challenges within a complex project or piece of work to successfully deliver high‑quality results. What obstacles did you face, how did you address them, and what was achieved?
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