The role involves advising on sustainable development in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, focusing on nature recovery and long‑term environmental benefits across local plans and high‑risk development cases.
Responsibilities
* Providing a strategic lead for specific high risk, high opportunity casework, with a particular focus on Town and Country Planning Act development proposals. This will involve working closely with colleagues across the team, supporting others delivering technical advice, and drawing down national specialist input as required.
* Providing advice on spatial development strategies and working closely with local planning authorities on high priority local plans to manage risk, ensure nature is designed into development, and secure plan policies that support strong, long‑term environmental outcomes.
* Building partnerships with customers and stakeholders to resolve complex planning issues. Providing clear, pragmatic, evidence‑based advice to developers and local planning authorities, seeking opportunities to maximise delivery through our discretionary advice service (DAS).
* Act as an account manager for Lead Environmental Regulator, managing relationships with developers and working with Defra and other Arm’s‑Length Bodies (ALBs) e.g. Environment Agency, to provide joined‑up advice to developers and enable delivery of integrated outcomes for nature recovery and growth.
* Enabling developers to use tools such as Green Infrastructure standards, Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Delivery Plans (as these are developed) to secure planning approvals and gains for people and nature.
* Provide support to other sustainable development advisers within the team, including support at external and internal meetings, providing a steer on complex and challenging issues, and escalating risk through appropriate channels.
* Contributing to the broader leadership of the area team through active participation in cross‑team groups and briefings to NE senior leadership and working with other Senior Officers within the wider area team to ensure consistency in advice delivery across all our work areas.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
* The ability to see the big picture, so you can steer sustainable development work within the context of Natural England’s Strategy and help colleagues understand how their work relates to and supports this.
* The ability to build collaborative relationships with colleagues (both internally and externally) to help make things happen and deliver outcomes.
* The ability to direct, coach and support staff to deliver on sustainable development objectives.
* The ability to resolve problems and manage risks with good judgement and seek innovative solutions.
* Strong planning, prioritisation, and organisational ability to manage complex delivery areas with competing demands.
* Excellent written and oral communications skills.
* Robust and current knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance and how to apply and interpret it to NE’s activities and duties.
* Strong understanding of environmental protection in England and the legislation that underpins it.
* Demonstrable experience of UK ecology with a broad understanding of priority habitats and species.
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