Job description

The programme is looking for 1 energetic, resilient and detail focused natural scientist who can develop and deliver a broad range of portfolios of natural capital and ecosystem monitoring. You will work with a team of natural scientists to provide the scientific direction and support to ensure that the programme has the right expertise at the right time to drive effective and transformational delivery at all stages of the value chain. Domain knowledge of either soils, woodland and water ecosystems would be an advantage.

The post holder will work within a diverse team of natural scientists and our delivery partners; Natural England, The Environment Agency, Forest Research, The Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. You will be reporting to a SSO and G7 lead in order to:   

• Support the management and assurance of the design, specification and delivery of England-wide long-term environmental monitoring portfolios covering Environmental Land Management, Trees & Woodlands, Water, Soils and vegetation.   

• Support a cross-cutting project working to support this, including field sample, data and earth observation, integrated design, and citizen science.     

To do this you will:  

• Support the development, assurance and delivery of robust and defendable science to provide evidence to enable programme outcomes and solve policy issues.   

• Monitor, challenge and guide the use of evidence and knowledge, from a wide range of sources, to come to logical conclusions. Challenge assumptions and current approaches, and frame problems in a way that allows others to solve them.   

• Encourage and support innovation to solve policy issues; positively challenging how things are done.   

• Develop, nurture, and manage stakeholder relationships to create and maintain a cohesive and collaborative environment for delivery.   

• Develop and apply expertise for a key portfolio area such as Trees and Woodland, Water, Soils and Vegetation and contribute guidance and direction to the team.

Person specification

We are looking for demonstration of the following skills and experience: 

• DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE - A good understanding of environmental monitoring and natural capital is essential  

• EXPERIENCE WORKING ON COMPLEX PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES - A proven ability to work on projects in a complex environment, with the ability to think strategically and critically about how your work fits into your organisations’ agenda and adapting accordingly to deliver outcome-oriented products and outputs 

• STAKEHOLDERS & COMMUNICATIONS - A proven track record as an excellent communicator, you will also have great stakeholder management skills, and the ability to build productive working relationships quickly and to engender confidence with colleagues and stakeholders 

• COLLABORATION & CO-DESIGN – Experience working with customers or stakeholders to develop and deliver work, balancing the needs of various customers/stakeholders with the needs of your work area to successfully deliver mutually beneficial outcomes 
• STRATEGIC THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING - Able to take into account wider contexts and independently manage conflicting priorities to effectively plan ahead, spotting and managing risks and opportunities.  Able to think strategically to align the programme with wider departmental, government and global agenda.  You are a problem solver with the ability to grasp technical or scientific issues, assimilating complex and detailed information to form balanced conclusions.

• LEADERSHIP - Evidence of leadership and management skills is desirable, with an ability to set the direction of travel, be decisive, think tactically and develop proactive solutions to problems.  You should be comfortable working independently, leading across your programme of work, with sound judgement and decision-making skills to evaluate options, assess risks, and make strategic decisions. 

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Ability to review and understand large quantities of technical, science information to assess its validity, challenge limitations, summarise and put forward alternative approaches.