Technical Advisor (Natural capital) - 26928

Being able to describe nature in terms of its role in sustaining economic and social well-being provides a powerful tool for protecting our natural environment.  A natural capital approach does this and when embedded in decision-making frameworks is driving investment in nature-based solutions.

We are looking for technical advisors to join our Natural Capital team, to support us to develop natural capital evidence and tools (for ecosystems and environmental socioeconomics). This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a natural capital approach in the Environment Agency, helping to reverse the decline in nature and tackle the climate emergency.

We are looking for dynamic, collaborative and organised people who can help us take innovative approaches from concept through to everyday use. You will:

-shape and deliver evidence, tools and capability-building resources to develop our understanding and ability to adopt a natural capital approach 
-provide specialist guidance and advice to support teams trialing natural capital tools, sharing learning so we can continuously improve.
-be an advocate for a natural capital approach, actively building and sharing your knowledge, skills, and capabilities to expand our collective capacity for this exciting new approach

Your work will contribute to the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme - a cross-functional and cross-organisational evidence programme that is a significant investment in our ability to measure and assess the natural environment and its benefits to society.  

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan, so we’ll support you to find an incident role to suit your needs and circumstances. Appropriate training will be given.

You’ll join the Natural Capital Team in the Chief Scientist’s Group which sits within the Environment and Business (E&B) Directorate. We co-ordinate and lead the Environment Agency's work on natural capital, developing and embedding evidence and tools into operational delivery and building staff capability to confidently take a natural capital approach. We are a friendly and collaborative team that promotes a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued.

We are looking for team players, who can work at pace, with curiosity to learn and respond to what our partners need from this innovative approach to environmental management.  

In your capability-based answers please demonstrate your: 

-understanding (or desire to learn) of the natural capital approach and its application to policy or environmental management 
-strong background in an environmental science e.g., freshwater, terrestrial or marine ecosystems, water quality, water resources, geomorphology, environmental socioeconomics 
-knowledge of Environment Agency and our partners’ business would be useful e.g., land managers, water industry, spatial planners, developers
-experience of project planning, design and implementation   
-ability to understand complex scientific information and experience in using it to create evidence to guide decisions and organisational approaches  
-excellent written and oral communication skills  
-ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues

We’re committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve, so welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds.

We are a nationally dispersed team who use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, but some travel and overnight stays may be required.

For information about working for us and how to apply please read the Candidate Pack and the Additional Information Pack. 

If you have any queries please contact Gemma Kinsey (gemma.kinsey@environment-agency.gov.uk) or Ruth Hughes (ruth.hughes@environment-agency.gov.uk) 

Applications will be ‘blind’ assessed using your answers to the competency questions. 

Interviews will be held during early September using MS Teams.

We’ll hold your application on a reserve list for 6 months, you may be offered an alternative post.

Applies scientific knowledge (e.g. natural capital, freshwater, terrestrial or marine ecosystems, environmental economics) to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.

Please describe how you have built up scientific and technical knowledge in area(s) relevant to natural capital and how you have applied it in policy, decision-making or to manage the environment.

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Please describe how you have led and successfully delivered a challenging project or piece of work, the steps that you took to achieve it, and the outcomes you secured.

Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses

Please describe an example of how you used your knowledge and understanding of your customers to improve the service you provided for them

Identifies and seizes the opportunity to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods, processes and without, compromising quality or accuracy.

Please describe an example of when you have designed and implemented an innovative and/or more efficient method to improve the quality of your own or your team’s work.