6552 - Sustainable Development Higher Officer Number of jobs available 3 Region Yorkshire and the Humber City/Town Leeds, York Building/Site Leeds, York Grade HEO Organisation Grade NE Level 3. Post Type Permanent Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share Role Type Environment & Sustainability, Planning Salary Minimum £32,240 Job description Role description As a Sustainable Development Higher Officer, you will coordinate and provide statutory environmental advice on major plans and projects. This includes development management cases under the Town and Country Planning system, Local Plans and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Working and building strong relations with statutory bodies, government agencies, developers and consultants, you will support nature recovery by helping shape plans and projects, embedding nature from the outset streamline the development process and secure better and bigger outcomes. The role involves time critical statutory work that is complex and, at times, contentious. You will assess evidence to support clear decisions, work with others to improve plans where needed, and help reduce risks while delivering better outcomes for nature. This will include managing constructive relationships with partners and working closely with colleagues across Natural England to find pragmatic solutions. You will be line managed by a Senior Manager within the Area Team, with functional direction and technical support provided by the team's Sustainable Development Senior Officers, to support development and ensure consistency with national standards and priorities. The post holder will: Lead on the delivery of Natural England's statutory advice on major plans and projects, including development management, Local Plans and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. This includes assessing Environmental Impact Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessments and supporting technical evidence within statutory timescales to provide timely, pragmatic, evidence-based and legally robust advice that secures the best possible outcomes for nature. Take ownership of complex High Risk and High Opportunity plans and casework, coordinating input across Natural England to ensure consistent, high-quality advice. Act as a key point of contact for regulators and developers on allocated cases, building effective working relationships to resolve complex planning issues. Work proactively with partners to support strategic solutions that deliver nature recovery at scale, including biodiversity net gain and high quality green and blue infrastructure. Respond to post consent and discharge of condition consultations including Development Consent Orders, planning permissions and licences. Identify and escalate risks associated with the delivery of environmental planning advice and ensure strong governance and record keeping Participate in relevant internal networks to ensure personal development and the timely exchange of information and best practice and identifying more effective ways of working through collating lessons learned Benefits At Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, part-time, and flexible working arrangements. Weprovideexcellent opportunities for career progression, training,and development tailored to your role. This includestendays annually for personal learning and development, plusthreeadditionaldays for volunteering. You'llreceive a generous leave allowance of25 days per year (pro rata), increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days (pro-rata), access to the Civil Service Pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution, and a range of benefits such as shopping discounts and a cycle-to-work scheme. Staff can also join the Civil Service Sport club for discounts on sports, leisure activities, and social events. We are committed to fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Our employee-led diversity networks help foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Locations Natural England has adopted hybrid working - which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. Allnew staffwill beformally linked to one of our 25 offices across England, and the expectation is that allnew staffwill be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Staff are expected to attend their associated office for 20% of their contractual hours. Staff membersare required tocarry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work-related travel isrequiredbut does not apply to travel between home and your associated office. View a map of our office locations here: Pay It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range. How to Apply We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet theminimumrequirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview. If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you shouldnotify usof this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview.We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments. This vacancy uses competency-based assessment.We'llassess you against the competencies below during the selection process: Specialist Skills & Knowledge Personal Effectiveness Putting People at the Heart of the Environment Work Delivery When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of yourAction. Please note that STAR format is not requiredwhen answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency. Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency. If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description. As with all roles in NE, these roles require office attendance of a minimum of 20% of the working time - one day per week for those who work full time, subject to any reasonable adjustments and/or existing contractual homeworking. The team Join us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive.Whetheryou'redrawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for theenvironment and society. OurRole Natural England is the Government's adviser for the natural environment and the Nature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence,expertiseand advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others. Strategic Outcomes for Nature Our strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each ofthese outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental,socialand economic actions critical to thriving nature. Recovering Nature - Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives. BuildingBetter Places - Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives aroundus. ImprovingHealth and Wellbeing - Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever theylive. Delivering Security through Nature - Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentifulwaterand clean air. Find out more about the work of Natural England at: The Team The team works across the four counties of Yorkshire and in northern Lincolnshire, sweeping down from the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the South Pennines. It encompasses the urban and industrial areas of South and West Yorkshire and the agricultural lowlands of the East Riding, before reaching the beautiful Yorkshire Coast and the Humber Estuary. Within these diverse landscapes we provide evidence-based advice to Local Planning Authorities and developers on terrestrial planning applications, Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and Local Plans that have the potential to impact on nationally and internationally designated sites (e.g. SSSIs, SACs, SPAs). We review environmental assessments and provide advice on mitigation measures to ensure our iconic designated sites across Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire are protected. Alongside this we work closely with local decision-makers to embed nature in spatial planning and place-based strategies, helping develop strategic solutions to improve environmental outcomes on a larger scale and contribute to Nature Recovery. You will be joining a passionate, knowledgeable and supportive team that plays a key role in shaping major development and planning decisions across the area. This is a challenging and rewarding role, offering opportunities to build expertise in complex casework while developing a broad range of professional capabilities. Contact and additional information (Recruiters Name, Email and Phone Number) Dawn Hardwick Email: Dawn.Hardwick@naturalengland.org.uk Mob: 07789 538443 Closing Date: 14/06/2026, 23:55 hours Interview dates Expected June Level of security checks required Basic Check (BPSS) Competence 1 Professional competency Detail Technical Skills and Knowledge Description Essential Sound knowledge of relevant environmental and planning legislation including the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, the Town and Country Planning Act and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Proven experience of applying environmental legislation and policy to development and plan making, including Habitats Regulations Assessment, Sustainability Appraisals and Environmental Impact Assessments. Good understanding of the English planning system and decision making processes, including experience of or exposure to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, Local Plans or Town and Country Planning cases (Development Management). Ability to interpret technical evidence and provide clear, proportionate and legally robust advice to planning authorities, decision makers and developers. Desirable A degree or professional qualification in environmental science, ecology, planning or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant applied experience. Understanding of how local planning authorities operate and make decisions. Ecological or environmental management knowledge relevant to the assessment of development impacts and opportunities for nature recovery. Competence 2 Professional competency Detail Personal Effectiveness Description Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Practitioner) Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (Practitioner) Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Basic) Competence 3 Professional competency Detail Putting People at the Heart of the Environment Description Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (Practitioner) Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation's vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner) Competence 4 Professional competency Detail Work Delivery Description Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner) Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures (Practitioner) Supporting document 1 Organisation Natural England