Infrastructure Senior Officer (Ref: 6013)

The Planning and Infrastructure Team forms part of the Land for Nature Team, located within Strategy and Government Advice, in the Strategy Directorate of Natural England.
The Team works across the terrestrial and marine environment to:
+ Advise Government on national policy issues, contributing to the development of planning policy, guidance and process changes and responding to national consultations.
+ Provide strategic technical advice and leadership to our programme and operations teams and develop new approaches to planning and infrastructure work.
+ Develop and maintain relationships with key national partners including Government, other regulators and agencies, NGOs and the commercial sector.
This presents a unique opportunity to influence government policy to secure greater outcomes for the natural environment, whilst also playing a key role in both supporting and shaping Natural England’s Planning and Infrastructure work.
We are looking for Senior Officers to join our team and work alongside our Infrastructure Principal Officers and the wider SGA Planning and Infrastructure Team to provide the leadership and technical focus to drive forward Natural England’s ambitions for the natural environment. This will be delivered through our policy advice and by helping to shape the way in which we deliver our statutory advice on major infrastructure work.
You will play a key role in shaping Natural England’s response at a critical time with fundamental changes proposed to the planning, infrastructure planning and environmental assessment regimes.
A key focus of these roles will be interacting with key industry bodies and partner organisations. You will work proactively to build an understanding of the aims, objectives and challenges of industry and partners. Collaborative work both internally and externally will be required to identify and maximise opportunities to improve our evidence base and knowledge, driving forwards solutions which help further the ambitions of the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan.
You will provide national leadership and technical advice for your core topic area to ensure consistency of advice both within and across sectors, through the development and provision of training, guidance and leading technical network
Key Tasks and Accountabilities
The post holder(s) will need to maintain a flexible and adaptable attitude and approach. Initial broad work areas are likely to comprise those described below:
+ Provide technical advice to Defra, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Transport (DfT) to support NE’s response to emerging infrastructure planning policy and guidance including responses to national consultations.
+ Build effective relationships with Defra, MHCLG, DfT and other Government Department colleagues alongside key infrastructure stakeholders, developers and industry groups. Act as relationship manager where required.
+ Provide technical infrastructure planning advice to operations teams on casework and environmental assessment processes, particularly in relation to novel/precedent setting matters or where strategic approaches may be required.
+ Lead/contribute to technical guidance, standing advice, briefings and training on infrastructure and planning. Work with industry and regulators to develop best practice guidance and approaches where possible
+ Horizon scan, understand future development proposals and policy changes relevant to the sector, opportunities and share this intelligence with delivery teams to able them to anticipate future workloads.
+ Progress opportunities to increase the evidence base around environmental impacts associated with the sector(s), with a focus on addressing key evidence gaps, working collaboratively and with partners.
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 the minimum requirements 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 should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
+ Technical Skills and Knowledge.
+ Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
+ Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas.
+ Personal Effectiveness.
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 your doing so.
Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.
Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency., • Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation. (Practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation’s vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)
Competence 3
Professional competency
Creating resilient landscapes and seas, Identify and apply relevant planning and environmental legislation, policies and processes to deliver effective and proportionate evidence-based solutions and advice (practitioner).
• Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (practitioner).
Competence 4
Professional competency
Personal Effectiveness, • Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (practitioner).
• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Expert).
• Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Practitioner)

• A relevant degree and/or extensive experience in a related field. (Essential)
• Technical expertise and applied experience of the marine planning system, legislation, national policy and guidance the Town and Country Planning System, and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (Essential).
• Technical expertise and experience of the application of environmental assessment processes to planning casework (HRA, EIA, SEA) (Essential)
• Experience of working with key national external partners and stakeholders that have been directly engaged with the infrastructure/planning system systems. (Desirable)
• Understanding of the legislative/policy/strategic context of infrastructure and planning work e.g., 25 Year Environment Plan, Environment Act, National Policy Statements, National Planning Policy Framework, Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (Desirable)
Competence 2
Professional competency, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

+ Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.
+ Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.
+ You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.
+ You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.
+ Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.
+ We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan.
Locations
Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week.
Staff members are required to carry 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 is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office.
+ National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office., Alongside your salary of £37,950, Natural England contributes £10,994 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%