Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£37,950 per annum

About the Role
Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains now and for the future? Are you motivated by working collaboratively in a team and advising communities and customers to maximise benefits for the natural environment? If so, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to deliver environmental improvements and contribute to a better future for people and nature.

Natural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. This ambitious vision creates new opportunities to protect, enhance, and achieve real outcomes for the environment.

This vacancy is for Senior Officer roles within two Area Teams: Sussex & Kent and East Midlands. The role is a cost-recoverable Operational Senior Officer position responsible for delivering and supporting Natural England’s statutory and discretionary advice on priority energy Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) with combined marine and terrestrial elements.

The successful candidate will have expertise in marine planning, licensing, consenting, and Natural England’s role in the NSIP process, with experience working on marine NSIPs. You will be familiar with Natural England’s templates and processes and able to lead teams preparing for NSIP examinations, attending hearings, and managing post-consent work.

This role involves maintaining oversight of the coordination and delivery of Natural England’s advice on marine sustainable development NSIPs, including offshore wind projects, and delivering complex pieces of work directly. As a Senior Officer, you will play a key leadership role, acting as a role model for Natural England’s ways of working and helping drive the changes needed to meet government green energy targets, ensuring Natural England’s presence at key examinations and hearings.

Experience
- Demonstrated expertise in delivering major casework at local and seas levels, maintaining an overview of your portfolio.
- Experience working with marine NSIPs, including offshore wind and other marine sustainable development projects.
- Proven ability to support effective case handling and deliver timely, evidence-based advice.
- Experience engaging with key partners and stakeholders to ensure effective communication and strong relationships.
- Familiarity with Natural England’s templates, processes, and non-financial scheme of delegation for marine sustainable development casework.

About you
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor, coach, and develop capability within case teams.
- Collaborative approach to working with terrestrial and marine colleagues, sharing learning and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Ability to work effectively with lead advisers, national specialists, principal advisers, and managers.
- Commitment to driving change to meet government green energy targets and ensuring Natural England’s influence at key NSIP examinations and hearings.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Qualifications
- Relevant qualifications or professional experience in marine planning, environmental management, or related fields are desirable but not explicitly stated.
- A strong understanding of environmental legislation and the NSIP process is essential.