3059 - Heathlands Senior Specialist
You will provide national expertise on the ecology, conservation, restoration and management of lowland heathlands including advice on Agri-Environment Schemes and Protected Sites.
Working closely with other specialists, the role focuses on interpreting and synthesising evidence to provide expert, practical advice across Natural England. The role also involves working with external partners to further enhance the evidence base and achieve environmental outcomes.
Key tasks
- Provide leadership and advice to Area Teams in dealing with routine and high-risk casework on protected sites, including on SSSI designations, planning, monitoring and enforcement cases.
- Provide specialist training and support to other Natural England teams including via the Natural England Heathland Network.
- Undertake strategic reviews and horizon scanning on general terrestrial habitat and impact of upcoming policies.
- Provide technical input on policy consultations e.g. Net Gain consultation and advice to Defra on developing Environmental and Agriculture law, policy and its implementation in respect of heathlands i.e. Nature Recovery Networks, Net Zero, agri-environment options.
- Provide expert input to the development of Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) definitions for heathland habitats and reform of Protected Sites Monitoring.
- Provide assurance and challenge on science and evidence related to lowland heathland, its management and conservation; the future development of the Priority Habitats Inventory, Natural Capital
- Lead, scope, commission and project manage heathland monitoring and/or research projects with external contractors in support of NE’s strategic objectives.
- Build relationships with key stakeholders in the UK and beyond, including researchers, learned societies, NGOs and statutory agencies to develop and share evidence and guidance relating to heathland habitats and their conservation and management.
- Represent Natural England externally as a heathland’s habitat expert.
The Specialist Services and Programmes Team (SSP) is part of the Chief Scientists Directorate in Natural England. This Directorate is responsible for Natural England’s Science, Evidence and Evaluation Strategy and support its implementation to ensure Natural England is an evidence-led organisation. The SSP team leads on the development and application of natural, economic and social science and evidence to drive and enable the achievement of environmental outcomes both within Natural England and externally.
Our Chief Scientist Directorate is a great place to work, with some of the country’s leading environmental scientists, and we offer strong support for flexible working and personal development.
Vacancy manager: Lorna Harris, Team Leader, Specialist Services and Programmes Team. lorna.harris@naturalengland.org.uk / 07768 858355.
Technical lead: Dr Isabel Alonso, Principal Specialist Analyst. Isabel.alonso@naturalengland.org.uk / 07500 882590.
16/12/2020, 23:55 hours
• In depth knowledge of heathland conservation, ecology and management and relevant land management practices.
• Good botanical skills and a good knowledge of vegetation classification systems such as the National Vegetation Classification and the wider value of heathlands for other taxa such as invertebrates, rare plants and birds.
• Be able to develop and apply practical evidence-based and interdisciplinary solutions to heathland management and conservation challenges and understand the broader context within which this specialism sits within Natural England.
• Be able to critically evaluate and synthesise, data and evidence and provide clear advice to inform policy and delivery advice at a range of scales, i.e. field, farm, landscape and national. This includes assessing the sufficiency of that evidence, its strengths and weaknesses, the validity of conclusions which can be drawn from it.
• Initiate, write and assess technical reports and papers.
• Build and strengthen your scientific expertise by keeping up to date with current evidence and research, integrating this with your work so you provide support, assurance and challenge on science and evidence.
Produce specialist products such as articles, think pieces and papers for both general and technical readerships and contribute to peer-review publications and conferences.
Display thought leadership on Natural England's behalf through external collaboration within the Defra family and with other partners and academics.
Identify priority evidence needs and seek ways to meet them (e.g. through funding or partnerships).
Share knowledge and information, building your networks and increasing your understanding.
Develop and display independence and initiative, including the ability to test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way.
Synthesise existing knowledge to provide and communicate evidence summaries, reviews and digests and ensure the overall robustness, quality and impact of our evidence and analysis within your scientific discipline(s).
This Vacancy is closed to applications.