Principal Specialist – Water Quality - Casework - ( Ref : 6696 )

The Science Team is part of the Chief Scientist's Directorate (CSD) in Natural England. This Directorate is responsible for Natural England's Science, Evidence and Analysis Framework and supports its implementation to ensure Natural England is powered by science. The Science team leads on the development and application of natural, economic and social science and evidence to drive and enable the achievement of environmental outcomes both within Natural England and externally. We work across the organisation and with external partners and government departments. Join us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive. Whether you're drawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for the environment and society.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

As a Principal Specialist within science, you will work collaboratively with specialists across CSD, as well as with operations and strategy colleagues. This role will be focused on providing scientific advice into Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and other high risk/high opportunity casework. This is an exciting opportunity to make a strong contribution to Natural England's engagement with some of the most important development proposals in the country ensuring that nature is included as critical national infrastructure. NSIPs are major planning schemes that present both challenges and significant opportunities for the natural environment. They cover a wide range of proposals, from wind farms and solar energy to water resources, ports, airports and major new road and rail schemes. Working with colleagues in both your team and across the organisation you will help ensure that the natural environment is fully considered through the planning process. You will seek to maximize gains for nature from these nationally significant projects. Our aim is to ensure that all development is truly sustainable, not only protecting what we have but also contributing to nature recovery.

This Is a New Role Aimed To:

• Speed up Natural England's response times to priority development
• Increase involvement and engagement at key stages of the process (for example issue specific hearings)
• Manage cases and develop solutions and thematic advice to support operational teams in providing proportionate advice.

We are looking for an experienced communicator with a deep specialism and understanding of the planning process and how science and evidence is best developed and applied for positive, pragmatic outcomes for nature and for people.

Areas Which The Post Holder May Contribute To Includes:

• Provide expert water quality advice in relation to nationally significant infrastructure/high risk casework and nutrient neutrality
• Develop technical tools and guidance to support nutrient neutrality decision-making
• Working with strategy colleagues to develop guidance and standing advice.
• Building, analysing and applying the evidence base to inform support and advice, identifying any risks associated with the evidence.
• Including identifying emerging issues and opportunities.
• Representing Natural England as a subject matter expert and build relationships with key experts, stakeholders and, as needed, developers across the sector.
• Work with specialists, national strategy teams, area team colleagues, and partners to ensure that the evidence and monitoring and strategic solutions needed to improve development management projects, is embedded in decision making.
• Build awareness and understanding of your specialism in the context of development management both internally and externally.
• Ensure that staff understand how your specialism relates to their work and build organisational capability through provision of advice, tools, guidance and training.
• Demonstrate thought leadership across your specialism and within the Chief Scientist Directorate, in order to address complex challenges.
• Resolve problems which may involve developing new approaches, testing options, seeking consensus and interpretation in making recommendations or determining appropriate advice.
• Represent Natural England externally as a recognised expert in your field, including at Public Inquiries, hearings and examinations.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate will:

• Be qualified to at least MSc level in a relevant ecological discipline or can demonstrate equivalent experience. (Essential)
• Have an excellent knowledge of water quality science, including sources of nutrients; chemical and hydrological behaviour; impacts on ecology; and the interaction of these aspects with the impacts of climate change. (Essential)
• Have excellent communication skills (verbally and in written form) and can convey complex ideas to a wide range of audiences (Essential)
• Have strong analytical skills (qualitative and quantitative) and knowledge of approaches used to collate best evidence to advise on development impacts e.g modelling, data analysis and survey techniques. (Essential)
• Have an excellent understanding of the scientific literature on hydrology and related specialisms, and the analysis of hydrological data and evidence to inform complex and contentious decision-making (Essential)
• Have a strong understanding of adjacent specialisms in relation to the water environment, founded on principles of natural ecosystem function, with ability to integrate advice across work areas and linked to wider nature recovery outcomes (Desirable)
• Have working knowledge of policies, legislative frameworks and drivers for the water agenda. (Essential)

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Qualified to at least MSc level in a relevant ecological discipline or can demonstrate equivalent experience. (Essential)
• An excellent knowledge of water quality science including sources of nutrients; chemical and hydrological behaviour; impacts on ecology; and the interaction of these aspects with the impacts of climate change. (Essential)
• Experience in analysing and interpreting water quality data and how to apply the evidence to provide advice, identify evidence gaps and evaluate outcomes. (Essential)
• Knowledge of policies, legislative frameworks, and drivers for change in the water agenda, combined with an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the planning and water sectors. (Essential)
• Experience of high risk/high opportunity and complex water quality casework. (Essential)
• A strong understanding of adjacent specialisms in relation to the water environment, founded on principles of natural ecosystem function, with ability to integrate advice across work areas and linker to wider nature recovery outcomes (Desirable)

Personal Effectiveness

• Test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way providing scientific scrutiny, challenge and assurance to casework and other delivery that is practical and, where appropriate, cross-disciplinary (Expert)
• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (Expert)

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Build relationships and effective networks both externally and internally to bring in fresh perspectives, approaches and evidence to raise the profile of both your individual specialist work and that of Natural England. (Expert)
• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England. (Expert)

Work Delivery

• Identify and apply the most appropriate data and methodologies for your analysis, utilising reproducible analytical pipelines and data science approaches where appropriate. (Practitioner)
• Identify priority evidence needs and seek ways to meet them (e.g. through funding or partnerships). (Expert)