Biodiversity Technical Officer - 26678

There is an exciting opportunity to join the Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology team in Yorkshire Area, primarily covering the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Ouse and Wharfe catchments. This is a key team, working hard to create a better place by protecting and enhancing our diverse habitats and wildlife. As a Biodiversity Technical Officer in the team, you will provide high quality, evidence-based ecological advice to colleagues and customers. You will: screen and advise on all relevant Environment Agency programmes, plans and projects for biodiversity impacts to ensure compliance with relevant legislation; provide consultation advice on high risk permits and consents, and licences and planning applications to ensure that biodiversity and ecosystems are protected, and where relevant enhanced; identify and influence opportunities to deliver multiple benefits and to work with natural processes, through river basin management and flood risk management planning and delivery; be proactive in integrating biodiversity enhancements into EA Plans and Strategies, as well as partnership projects and take an active role in biodiversity & biosecurity incident response and support flood incident response.

As 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 Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology (FBG) team covering Yorkshire area. The FBG team is a multi-disciplinary team that promotes the conservation of water and wetland wildlife, and improvements to the environment for people. We give advice across the business and to our external customers and partners on ecology and geomorphological processes to protect and enhance the water environment.

We are seeking a Biodiversity Technical Officer with field and office-based experience and proven ability in delivering conservation work.

You will have a degree or experience in a relevant discipline.

You should also have:

• excellent communication skills and the ability to influence a broad range of customers.
• knowledge and experience of conservation principles and legislation.
• a good understanding of the ecological requirements of aquatic and wetland habitats and species and nature conservation management.
• the ability to build an appropriate evidence base to support your recommendations and decisions.
• a track record of collaborating with others to deliver shared priorities.
• good understanding of Water Framework Directive objectives, as well as protected habitats and species.
• excellent motivation and adaptability in delivering priorities.
• IT skills in word, excel, GIS and database management.

You must have a full driving licence.
Although this post is normally office based there will be a requirement to undertake site visits, meetings and fieldwork. There will be travel to other Environment Agency office locations in Yorkshire once offices start opening up fully.
For further information, please contact FBG Team Leader Katie Harwood on 07901 110602 or katie.harwood@environment-agency.gov.uk

Explain how you have applied scientific knowledge to test or answer a specific question or problem. Please give a biodiversity based example where possible.

Please describe a time when you have had to communicate effectively with a large number of stakeholders. What was the issue? What method of communication did you use? How did you check your message was understood? What was the result?

Give an example of when you have had to make a decision quickly, based on the information to hand. What was the situation? What were the key factors? How did you make your decision? What was the outcome?

Please provide an example of a time when you have been set some challenging objectives. How did you ensure these were met? What problems did you encounter? What was the result and what did you learn?

Full UK or EU driving licence.