Biodiversity Technical Officer - 20180

An opportunity has arisen to appoint a Biodiversity Technical Officer to the Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology Team in Solent and South Downs Area, based in Romsey or Chichester.
You will help us restore and enhance the natural environment by influencing our work as a regulator, operator, partner, incident responder and advocate.
We are working hard to create a better place and your expert knowledge of ecology, nature conservation and fisheries practice will help us protect and enhance our diverse habitats and wildlife for current and future generations.
You will develop your experience, pioneering best practice to conserve our natural resources in catchments of international importance for wildlife, covering the New Forest, the Isle of Wight, the Hampshire Downs, three iconic chalk streams, and the Solent that are facing unique pressure from development and climate change.
To be successful you will deal daily with the public, anglers, fisheries and riparian owners and managers, non governmental organisations, Local Authorities, Water Companies, industry, businesses and developers, assessing ecological risks and collaboratively delivering ecological benefits for people and wildlife.

You’ll join a vibrant Team of ecologists and fisheries specialists, integrating fisheries and biodiversity management and fisheries enforcement. We conserve and enhance rivers, still-waters, wetlands, estuaries and coastal habitats to deliver long-lasting environmental improvements for future generations.
Major challenges include protecting vulnerable wildlife populations, restoring urban rivers and still waters, eradicating invasive non-native species, reducing over-abstraction, improving water quality, promoting natural flood management, building climate change resilience and contributing to sustainable development.

• Excellent communicator with highly developed negotiation and influencing skills;
• An innovator who achieves results.
• An ecologist, or naturalist, qualified to degree level or with equivalent experience.
• A thorough understanding of ecological requirements of freshwater habitats and species, and coastal ecosystems and processes;
• Experience of environmental legislation, including European Directives and Regulations, Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment , national conservation regulations and legislation, Town and Country Planning and Marine Planning;
• knowledge of Government policy and strategy e.g. the 25 Year Environment Plan;
• Practical expertise in river and wetland management and restoration techniques;
• Experience of designing and implementing mitigation/compensation and nature based solutions;
• Project Management skills and track record in project delivery, working with Construction Design and Management Regulations (2015);
• Practical expertise in surveying for protected species.

We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.
We support flexible working hours and practices to help you strike a good balance between your work and your personal life. We will also encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career.
If you would like more information please get in touch with

Tim Sykes 07702 060348 Tim.sykes@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews will be held remotely by video conference date to be confirmed.

The Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology Team has a wide and diverse customer base which includes Environment Agency staff and management, other Government Departments, businesses, environmental non-governmental organisations, fishery and river owners, river keepers, anglers, angling clubs, partner organisations, academic institutions, and the public. In order to communicate effectively, it is vital that the successful candidate is able to get on with people from all walks of life. To do this you’ll be able to demonstrate at interview examples of how you have recognised what style and level of communication is required for different customers and how to adapt this accordingly; where you have been an active listener and conveyed information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing, and what the outcome was. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action taken, Result) model to frame your answer, prove to us you can successfully communicate effectively.

The Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology Team is a small team with a high output. A key role is to respond to requests for advice and technical input to Agency plans, projects, capital schemes and operations, often at short notice. The successful candidate will be able to work efficiently and effectively under pressure and within tight deadlines and demanding priorities, whilst ensuring their work is of the highest standard. An impressive track record as a completer-finisher is therefore essential. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action taken, Result) model to frame your answer, tell us about how you achieve your successes.

You’ll work alongside a range of Environment Agency colleagues, partners and stakeholders and members of the public. All of these will hold different views, have different experiences and backgrounds, perceptions, motivations, needs and skills, knowledge, capabilities and ambitions. You will be able to demonstrate at interview examples where you have presented cases in convincing and attractive ways that will win people over, encouraging them to follow advice willingly, even in cases where they did not initially agree with your position. Using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action taken, Result) model to frame your answer, persuade us you are the right person for this role.

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