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Natural England

Natural England

www.gov.uk

4 Jobs

2,187 Employees

About the Company

Natural England is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Our purpose is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings. Please note: we do not respond to queries on social media.

Listed Jobs

Company background Company brand
Company Name
Natural England
Job Title
Sustainable Development Senior Officer - ( Ref : 6370 )
Job Description
**Job Title** Sustainable Development Senior Officer **Role Summary** Provide strategic leadership for high‑risk, high‑opportunity planning cases nationwide, advising on spatial development strategies and building partnerships with developers, local planning authorities and arm‑sized bodies to embed nature recovery and sustainable development principles into planning decisions. **Expectations** - Deliver evidence‑based, pragmatic advice that aligns with national nature recovery and sustainable development objectives. - Influence policy and planning outcomes through strategic engagement with stakeholders and decision‑makers. - Manage key relationships with developers, local authorities, and environmental regulators to secure integrated environmental gains. - Champion the use of green infrastructure, Biodiversity Net Gain, and environmental delivery planning tools. **Key Responsibilities** 1. Lead strategic casework on high‑risk, high‑opportunity development proposals under the Town and Country Planning Act. 2. Provide expert advice on spatial development strategies, collaborating with local planning authorities to embed nature into local plans and secure supportive policies. 3. Build and sustain partnerships with developers, stakeholders, and other agencies (e.g., Defra, Environment Agency) to resolve complex planning issues. 4. Serve as the account manager for the Lead Environmental Regulator, coordinating joint advice to developers and facilitating integrated nature‑based solutions. 5. Advise on the application of green infrastructure standards, Biodiversity Net Gain, and emerging environmental delivery plans to secure planning approvals. 6. Represent the organisation in strategic discussions, briefings, and working groups to promote nature recovery across landscapes and seascapes. **Required Skills** - Strategic planning and policy analysis related to environmental regulation and planning law. - Deep knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Act, spatial development planning, and nature‑based solutions. - Strong stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and account management capabilities. - Excellent communication skills for drafting clear, evidence‑based advice and briefing senior decision‑makers. - Project and programme management skills, including managing cross‑functional teams and timelines. - Proficiency in using environmental planning tools and frameworks (green infrastructure, Biodiversity Net Gain, environmental delivery plans). **Required Education & Certifications** - Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in environmental science, geography, planning, ecology, or a related field. - Professional qualification such as Chartered Environmentalist (CEng) or equivalent is preferred. - Demonstrated experience in environmental planning, sustainable development, or nature‑based solutions at a senior level.
London, United kingdom
Hybrid
Senior
28-01-2026
Company background Company brand
Company Name
Natural England
Job Title
Project Support Higher Office (Ref: 6374)
Job Description
Job title: Project Support Higher Office (Ref: 6374) Role Summary: Provide high‑level project support within Natural England’s Sustainable Development team, assisting the Project/Programme Manager in delivering legislative planning reforms, infrastructure projects and nature‑restoration initiatives. Manage business cases, project plans, benefits identification and procurement processes to ensure projects meet scope, time, cost, and customer‑focused outcomes. Expectations: - Deliver projects that advance nature‑recovery goals and align with national planning policy. - Meet organisational standards for project delivery, governance, and assurance. - Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining customer focus. - Demonstrate commitment to digital enablement and sustainable long‑term outcomes. Key Responsibilities: 1. Prepare, monitor, and control business cases and project plans. 2. Apply appropriate project‑management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile). 3. Produce highlight reports for governance and executive reviews. 4. Identify, measure, track, and own project benefits; develop and monitor benefits realisation plans. 5. Manage procurement and contract resources where commercial procurement is required. 6. Support plans for implementing government reviews such as the Lead Environmental Regulator pilot. 7. Coordinate with cross‑functional teams and external partners to ensure timely delivery. Required Skills: - Strong project management fundamentals and experience in application of established methodologies. - Excellent written and verbal communication; stakeholder engagement. - Analytical and problem‑solving abilities, with focus on benefits management. - Basic procurement and contract‑management knowledge. - Proficiency in project management software and digital reporting tools. - Ability to work within the UK public‑sector governance and assurance framework. Required Education & Certifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Business, Environmental Management, Project Management, or related discipline. - Professional certification such as PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, or equivalent Agile certification preferred. - Knowledge of UK public‑sector policy and planning regulations is an advantage.
London, United kingdom
On site
29-01-2026
Company background Company brand
Company Name
Natural England
Job Title
Principal Officer – Lead Environmental Regulator - ( Ref : 6409 )
Job Description
**Job title** Principal Officer – Lead Environmental Regulator **Role Summary** Lead the national pilot for the Lead Environmental Regulator (LER) initiative, delivering strategic oversight, coordination, and stakeholder engagement across Natural England and other Defra Group ALBs. Shape a unified, customer‑focused regulatory service for major infrastructure projects, ensuring timely, efficient outcomes that support environmental and societal goals. **Expectations** * Drive the LER pilot to achieve regulatory efficiency and improved developer experience. * Represent Natural England at senior levels with developers, regulators, and government partners. * Develop and maintain a robust project pipeline for LER implementation. * Provide strategic direction and influence across cross‑functional teams to embed the LER model. **Key Responsibilities** 1. **Strategic Leadership & Coordination** – Oversee LER pilots, liaise with Defra Lead Environmental Regulator team and ALBs, and coordinate with the Major Planning Casework Team. 2. **Stakeholder Engagement** – Proactively engage with developers, regulatory bodies, and government partners to promote the LER approach, resolve issues, and build consensus. 3. **Pipeline Development** – Identify, assess, and prioritize national infrastructure projects suitable for LER implementation, ensuring alignment with strategic outcomes for nature. 4. **Programme Management** – Manage cross‑disciplinary teams, monitor progress, evaluate outcomes, and report on pilot performance to senior leadership. 5. **Policy & Guidance Development** – Contribute to operating models, evaluation methodologies, and best‑practice guidance for LER. **Required Skills** * Strategic thinking and system‑wide influence. * Programme and project management expertise (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2). * Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills. * Excellent communication and presentation abilities. * Knowledge of environmental regulation and natural resource management. * Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary, high‑profile environments. **Required Education & Certifications** * Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Law, Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred). * Professional certification in project management (PMP, PRINCE2) or environmental compliance is an advantage. ---
London, United kingdom
On site
Senior
16-02-2026
Company background Company brand
Company Name
Natural England
Job Title
Principal Officer Strategic Solutions (for Development and Nature) - ( Ref : 6411 )
Job Description
**Job Title:** Principal Officer – Strategic Solutions (Development & Nature) **Role Summary:** Lead the design and delivery of national‑level strategic solutions that embed nature recovery into land‑use and marine planning. Influence policy, legislation, and infrastructure projects to mitigate cumulative environmental impacts of development, ensuring sustainable outcomes for nature and society. **Expectations:** - Demonstrate senior‑level strategic thinking and vision. - Communicate complex ideas clearly to senior officials, regulators, industry and internal teams. - Drive cross‑departmental collaboration and lead a high‑performing work area. - Deliver innovative, scalable solutions to high‑risk planning challenges. - Uphold a customer‑focused, digitally enabled approach to policy and project delivery. **Key Responsibilities:** 1. Shape and implement legislative and policy reforms that integrate nature recovery into the planning system. 2. Develop and oversee strategic solutions for large‑scale environmental issues (e.g., offshore energy, air/water pollution, habitat fragmentation). 3. Provide leadership and clear vision for the work programme, managing resources and performance. 4. Influence Government Departments, regulators, the Office of Environmental Protection, industry and internal stakeholders to adopt nature‑positive planning approaches. 5. Ensure delivery of projects is sustainable, digitally enabled and aligned with national strategic outcomes (Recovering Nature, Building Better Places, Improving Health & Well‑being, Delivering Security through Nature). 6. Monitor and report on the impact of strategic solutions across landscapes and seascapes. 7. Foster a collaborative culture, integrating expertise from across Natural England. **Required Skills:** - Strategic planning and policy development in environmental/land‑use contexts. - Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing abilities. - Excellent written and oral communication, including briefing senior leaders. - Leadership and team‑development experience at senior level. - Project and programme management, with a record of delivering complex, multi‑agency initiatives. - Analytical skills to assess cumulative environmental impacts and devise system‑wide solutions. - Knowledge of UK planning legislation, marine and offshore energy frameworks, and environmental regulations. - Proficiency with digital tools for policy analysis and project delivery. **Required Education & Certifications:** - Bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Environmental Science, Geography, Planning, Ecology, or a related discipline; a relevant Master’s degree is preferred. - Professional accreditation such as Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) or equivalent is desirable but not mandatory. - Continuous professional development in environmental policy, strategic planning or related fields.
London, United kingdom
Hybrid
Senior
16-02-2026