NRF Senior Officer in Evaluation & Monitoring - ( Ref : 6470 )

We’re looking for motivated team players to join a unique, high-profile cross-Government Funding Programme, the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF). You’ll be part of a fast paced, supportive and creative team committed to influencing policy that will help to deliver sustainable growth and meaningful nature recovery. This role is initially offered as a one-year fixed term appointment, however there may be a later opportunity for this role to be made permanent. The NRF is designed to accelerate development while introducing innovative mechanisms that can extend significant and targeted environmental protection that drives nature’s recovery. It will offer a flexible, scalable approach to delivering environmental improvements where development impacts protected sites or species. Through Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs), the NRF will identify strategic, landscape-scale conservation measures to ensure better outcomes for nature. The pace is fast, the challenges are significant, and adaptability is key but the opportunity to contribute to this ambitious programme is hugely rewarding. We are a supportive and caring team that champions collaborative, agile working, bold ambition, and fresh, innovative thinking. If this sounds like the kind of environment you thrive in, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Tasks

• Support the Principal Officer in the design, implementation and management of a strategic Magenta Book compliant evaluation, monitoring and reporting programme to support the Nature Restoration Fund, including but not limited to:
• Apply strong analytical skills to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, triangulate findings, and use evidence to inform evaluation conclusions, recommendations and decision-making.
• Support engagement with policy and delivery teams and other analysts to ensure that evaluation meets their evidence needs and maximise the impact of the evaluation, making sure the evaluation programme is responsive to policy concerns, addressing key risks and is answering the most critical policy questions.
• Lead or support procurement processes to commission evaluation, monitoring or reporting services, including developing specifications, evaluation questions, ToC inputs, contract management requirements and quality expectations.
• Support internal and external stakeholder engagement in the evaluation, including setting up and managing appropriate governance structures, reporting progress to stakeholders, and ensuring stakeholder views are reflected in the evaluation.
• Contribute and learn from Natural England’s evaluation community, taking part in peer learning, sharing practice, and developing skills that support career growth within the evaluation and analytical profession.

Skills and Knowledge

• A thorough knowledge of evaluation methods and approaches, as set out in the Government’s Magenta Book, and how these might be applied in different contexts to deliver robust and impactful evidence.
• Demonstratable ability to develop and use Theory of Change models and use them to develop evaluation frameworks.
• Strong analytical and data skills, including quantitative and qualitative analysis and an ability to review and synthesise existing evidence.
• Proven ability in supporting the delivery of complex evidence projects or programmes, including delivery design, procurement, contract specification and management.
• Proven experience in ensuring the robustness, quality and impact of evidence to key initiatives and/or strategic, high-profile work areas.
• Effective interpersonal, verbal, and written skills, with experience of disseminating complex evaluation findings to a range of customers.
• Ability to work effectively with a range of policy and delivery colleagues and analysts at different levels in the organisation, in other governmental departments and external agencies.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, using clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage internal and external audiences.
• Good organisational skills and a strong track record of working in partnership.
• An understanding of complexity and complexity-appropriate approaches to evaluation including systems thinking.
• A strong understanding of monitoring techniques including survey design and implementation.
• An understanding of digital systems for monitoring and reporting.

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. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments. This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We will assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical skills and 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 your Action. 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. 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.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent understanding of evaluation principles as laid out in the HMT Magenta Book. (Essential)
• Ability to develop Theory of Change independently or collaboratively (e.g. through facilitated workshops) and use this to develop evaluation frameworks, evaluation plans (e.g. for business cases) and service orders (evaluation procurement). (Essential)
• Understand both Process and Impact evaluation, including appropriate methods and the data requirements to support effective evaluation. (Essential)
• Strong analytical skills, covering both quantitative and qualitative analysis and an ability to review and synthesise existing evidence. (Essential)

Personal Effectiveness

• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence. (Expert)
• Progress your personal development and take responsibility for keeping your knowledge and expertise current. (Practitioner)
• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Practitioner)

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)
• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England. (Practitioner)

Work Delivery

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