Sustainable Development Senior Officer - ( Ref : 6507 ) in Ashford

This position is based at Ashford (Kent) and Worthing. Do you want to make a real difference, working in a high priority area, securing significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in and leading a team? If so, this role may interest you as an opportunity to create a better future for people and nature through sustainable development in Sussex and Kent.

Natural England’s Area Teams use a range of mechanisms including land management and planning advice, engagement with stakeholders and direct management of our own land, to achieve the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and landscapes within its area. Natural England’s new Strategy includes making a shift from isolated interventions to nature recovery happening at scale, ensuring our efforts deliver lasting improvement across whole landscapes and seascapes. As part of this, our sustainable development work is helping build better places, and ensure nature is designed into development and investment plans from the outset to strengthen communities and benefit growth. These roles will contribute to Natural England’s sustainable development delivery, with a focus on securing nature recovery and long‑term environmental benefits.

The roles will need the flexibility to advise on local plans and spatial development strategies as well as high risk and high opportunity development cases. The work will include supporting the development of new strategic approaches to manage environmental pressures and building strong relationships with developers so that nature is planned in from the start to streamline development and reduce risk.

The successful candidate will work alongside other senior staff in similar roles and the role and responsibilities will include:

• Providing a strategic lead for specific high risk, high opportunity casework, with a particular focus on Town and Country Planning Act development proposals.
• 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.

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.

Technical expertise and applied experience of the planning system to shape environmental solutions for designated sites, protected landscapes and species (Essential). Technical expertise in and experience of planning mechanisms and their application for nature recovery – e.g. Habitats Regulations Assessments, Development Plan process, Sustainability Appraisals, Environmental Impact Assessments (or others). Ability to understand new planning processes and how they might be applied to enable the delivery of enhanced nature recovery (Essential). Knowledge of how local authorities work, and/or basic ecological or land management knowledge, is also useful but not essential (Desirable).

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). Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and throughout your organisation and inspire others to act (Practitioner).

Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (Practitioner). Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature (Practitioner).

Understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures (Practitioner). Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert).