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Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

The Enforcement and Appeals Team is responsible for the investigation of offences and serving of enforcement actions, including prosecutions relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), the EIA (Agriculture) Regulations, Species licensing breaches and Pesticide poisonings reported through the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme.

We defend Natural England's decisions to secure positive environmental outcomes by overseeing and advising on the formal appeal process. We also provide advice support to NEWLS, Area Teams and the police on matters of enforcement casework and reform.

Preventing harm to nature is central to our work, and we work with partners, landowners, and the public to advise, educate and promote the value of safeguarding nature. We have a range of tools and sanctions available to address incidents of non-compliance, including offering advice and guidance to support understanding of regulations and why they are needed.

Where sanctions are imposed, they will comply with the established principles of good regulation, being proportionate, transparent, targeted and accountable. We will always aim to deter future non-compliance, restore any environmental harm and eliminate any financial gain caused by non-compliance.

Job description

Officers operate within well-defined work-areas where there is clear guidance and support.

They enable day-to-day delivery of organisational targets and objectives across internal, commissioned and statutory delivery.

• Apply technical and role-related skills and knowledge to deliver casework.
• Provide guidance and support to customers and stakeholders.
• Support project and programme delivery.

Officers sit across National Operations and National Delivery under the management of Group Coordinators or Senior Managers and the functional leadership of Higher Officer, Senior Officers and Principal Officers. They apply technical and role-related skills and knowledge, supported by guidance and functional leadership to:

• Deliver casework to the required deadlines and quality.
• Provide guidance and support to customers and stakeholders through effective and clear communication.
• Support the delivery of projects and programmes.

Officers do not have accountability for budgets or line management.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

The post holder will:

• Monitor and manage mailboxes providing advice and support with enquiries, case allocations and the recording of cases on CLUE.
• Supporting the team with intelligence work, including CLUE and Power BI, Intelligence gathering and storage.
• Covering inbox and administration tasks across a variety of our work areas including Enforcement, Appeals, EIA and Weeds as required.
• Represent the work area internally and externally, providing initial advice and guidance on casework and WIIS calls, escalating risks internally as required and in line with current guidance.
• Foster a continuous improvement approach when dealing with issues and problems relating to the maintenance and coordination of established delivery approaches to specific targets and activities in support of team objectives.
• Carry out any secretariat duties, including reports for senior staff and external publication, updates to the public register, minuting, venue bookings and team meeting support.
• Coach and support colleagues in similar roles on new or improved work methods and approaches and develop own capabilities in line with development goals.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-organised and able to manage time effectively, with the motivation to set and achieve personal goals.
• Knowledge and experience of working within policy guidelines and operational guidance including information management and analysis.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment delivering work with conflicting deadlines and contributing to team targets.
• Use of Microsoft applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams) and other systems for day-to-day work.
• Mapping skills (GIS) would be desirable.

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Detail

Work Delivery

Description

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Practitioner)
  • Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures. (Basic)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Detail

Personal Effectiveness

Description

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience. (Basic)
  • Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act. (Practitioner)

Competence 3

Professional competency

Detail

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Description

• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims. (Basic)
  • Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England. (Practitioner)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Detail

Technical Skills and Knowledge - this competence does not need to be answered in STAR format.

Description

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. (Essential)
  • Well-organised and able to manage time effectively, with the motivation to set and achieve personal goals. (Essential)
  • Knowledge and experience of working within policy guidelines and operational guidance including information management and analysis. (Essential)
  • Experience of working in a fast-paced environment delivering work with conflicting deadlines and contributing to team targets. (Essential)
  • Use of Microsoft applications (Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams) and other systems for day-to-day work. (Essential)
  • Mapping skills (GIS) (Desirable).

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,910, Natural England contributes £8,375 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Will Westerman
• Email : william.westerman@naturalengland.org.uk
• Telephone : 07436021892

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6659-6659-Officer-Enforcement-and-Appeals/en-GB

Attachments

DEF-001h - Candidate Pack Natural England v2.9 Opens in new window (docx, 548kB)