At Natural England, we advise the UK Government on the natural environment. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. From advising farmers on sustainable land management, to gathering and analysing environmental data, and promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors, we love what we do. Join us and you’ll be part of an inclusive, motivated, and ambitious team, committed to achieving results for our environment, for everyone.

Natural England is a delivery partner supporting Defra in the development of three new land management schemes: the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery.  Our role is to provide advice on land management practices that will deliver environmental benefits and how schemes should operate to deliver success. To achieve this, we’ve set up two dedicated teams to provide technical input and share our extensive experience:  the Schemes Development Team and the Technical Guidance Project team.  We are currently producing an evidence-based ‘knowledge bank’ of technical guidance.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in designing and developing vital national environmental schemes and influencing the future for farmers and land managers. Our team works in a flexible and collaborative way, sharing knowledge and challenging thinking. We take an agile approach, organising our work to move at pace across agendas, and developing and testing established thinking through sprints. As our work evolves from scheme design to operational delivery, the scope of our opportunities will grow.  You can look forward to leading tasks that support the Government’s 25 Year Environmental Plan and net zero targets.  

We’re looking for experts in land management, agri-environmental schemes or protected sites who have an inquiring approach and are ready to focus on finding solutions that address risks and resolve issues.  With exceptional analytical and organisational skills, you must be prepared to deliver considered proposals at short notice and operate across several thematic areas. You’ll be working as part of a dispersed national team and collaborating closely with Defra, so well-developed communication and relationship-building skills are essential.  You must also have the confidence to lead our strategic engagement with stakeholders.  Knowledge of policy development would be a plus.

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and, wherever possible, we accommodate requests for both full and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns. Everyone at Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You can also look forward to great benefits including a Civil Service pension.
 
If you’re inspired to protect and enhance England’s wildlife, and want to work for a leading science-led organisation, apply here