Biodiversity Technical Officer - 26688
1
National
All
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Environment & Sustainability
£29,706 pro-rata
This role is an excellent opportunity to use your skills to help contribute to the UK’s net zero target and tackle the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.
The Government’s Energy Security Strategy was released in April 2022, which seeks to address both the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, with a target to deploy 24GW of nuclear power by 2050. This is an exciting time with the development of new nuclear power technologies; the scale of the projects may change in future, but the environmental complexities will remain as will the need for environmental permits.
As a biodiversity technical officer, you will work with and support technical specialists to provide advice and guidance to nuclear developers before they apply for environmental permits to construct and operate the stations. You will help to assess their permit applications under the Habitats Regulations, using your skills to interpret and present the supporting evidence and data, bringing together and formatting our HRA decision reports.
The post would be suited to anyone with an interest and knowledge in environmental protection, the Habitats Regulations, ecology and preferably air quality impacts on the environment.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents, or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The Government’s Energy Security Strategy was released in April 2022, which seeks to address both the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, with a target to deploy 24GW of nuclear power by 2050. This is an exciting time with the development of new nuclear power technologies; the scale of the projects may change in future, but the environmental complexities will remain as will the need for environmental permits.
As a biodiversity technical officer, you will work with and support technical specialists to provide advice and guidance to nuclear developers before they apply for environmental permits to construct and operate the stations. You will help to assess their permit applications under the Habitats Regulations, using your skills to interpret and present the supporting evidence and data, bringing together and formatting our HRA decision reports.
The post would be suited to anyone with an interest and knowledge in environmental protection, the Habitats Regulations, ecology and preferably air quality impacts on the environment.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents, or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
You will be part of the Nuclear New Build Habitats Regulations Assessment team, working closely with NNB project managers, national specialists, and our permitting and planning experts.
We also work with external partners and organisations, like Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation.
We deliver an important service to ensure that European sites are protected when issuing environmental permits for the construction and operation of new nuclear power stations.
We also work with external partners and organisations, like Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation.
We deliver an important service to ensure that European sites are protected when issuing environmental permits for the construction and operation of new nuclear power stations.
You are likely to have a background in ecology or assessing environmental impacts on protected habitats and species, with an ability to analyse and present data clearly. While some Habitats Regulations knowledge is expected, you will be supported by a team of specialists.
You will need:
• knowledge of the impact that activities such as water discharges, water abstractions, or aerial emissions have on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology and how these impacts could be mitigated
• a good grasp of presenting and interpreting data using GIS and Office365 tools such as Word and Excel
• good communication, relationship-building, and team-working skills
• good work planning skills, including the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales
You will need:
• knowledge of the impact that activities such as water discharges, water abstractions, or aerial emissions have on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology and how these impacts could be mitigated
• a good grasp of presenting and interpreting data using GIS and Office365 tools such as Word and Excel
• good communication, relationship-building, and team-working skills
• good work planning skills, including the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales
This is a national role in a dispersed team. You must be comfortable working as part of a dispersed team located across the country. The role will require some train travel with occasional overnight stays.
As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, to achieve this we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. We also welcome applications for part-time hours.
If you are interested in applying for one of these important roles, please email Andrea Basten andrea.basten@environment-agency.gov.uk to arrange an informal chat.
As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, to achieve this we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. We also welcome applications for part-time hours.
If you are interested in applying for one of these important roles, please email Andrea Basten andrea.basten@environment-agency.gov.uk to arrange an informal chat.
16/06/2023, 23:55 hours
Basic Check
Legislative Knowledge
Please do not attach a CV. Your answer here will be used for interview section.
Description: Roles require specialised knowledge based on experience and / or suitable qualifications. For this role, this would include knowledge of conservation legislation such as the Habitats Regulations, Countryside and Rights of Way Act, or ecological knowledge, for example fish ecology and protections. Requires depth of knowledge that enables working authoritatively within a regulatory or operational environment.
Describe with an example(s) your knowledge of key UK conservation legislation. This knowledge may have been gained as part of higher education or vocationally.
Description: Roles require specialised knowledge based on experience and / or suitable qualifications. For this role, this would include knowledge of conservation legislation such as the Habitats Regulations, Countryside and Rights of Way Act, or ecological knowledge, for example fish ecology and protections. Requires depth of knowledge that enables working authoritatively within a regulatory or operational environment.
Describe with an example(s) your knowledge of key UK conservation legislation. This knowledge may have been gained as part of higher education or vocationally.
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Please do not attach a CV. Your answer here will be used for interview section.
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives, and taking sound and timely decisions.
The role requires a working knowledge of the Habitats Regulations, taking decisions to help inform permitting decisions.
Describe the last time you had to analyse a lot of information or data in order to come to a decision.
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives, and taking sound and timely decisions.
The role requires a working knowledge of the Habitats Regulations, taking decisions to help inform permitting decisions.
Describe the last time you had to analyse a lot of information or data in order to come to a decision.
Communicates Effectively
Please do not attach a CV. Your answer here will be used for interview section.
Description: You'll be clear and to the point in your written and verbal communication. You'll be able to communicate with a wide audience and explain technical issues to non-technical colleagues and partners.
This role involves communicating with a lot of different people from internal colleagues in different teams, to Defra colleagues and the nuclear developers.
Describe your experience of communicating effectively with a range of people to get your message across respectfully, clearly and succinctly.
Description: You'll be clear and to the point in your written and verbal communication. You'll be able to communicate with a wide audience and explain technical issues to non-technical colleagues and partners.
This role involves communicating with a lot of different people from internal colleagues in different teams, to Defra colleagues and the nuclear developers.
Describe your experience of communicating effectively with a range of people to get your message across respectfully, clearly and succinctly.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
This Vacancy is closed to applications.