Advisor for Trees - 29406

Job content

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Environment Agency’s National Ecology, Ecosystems and Geomorphology team.

You’ll work closely with the Senior Advisor for Trees to ensure the delivery of the Environment Agency’s work on trees to promote healthy and vibrant rivers with a natural and positive association with riparian trees and woodland.

You will help deliver the Environment Agency’s work in supporting the Government’s goals to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050.

Our national and area teams engage with a wide range of external stakeholders on the management and creation of trees and woodland. You will help guide and support them to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks to the water environment. Interactions can cover a wide range of topics, including water resource and supply, water quality, ecology and biodiversity, and flood risk management.

You will help to identify and showcase areas where trees and woodland can protect, improve and enhance the environment. You will promote the use of woodland to reduce pressures on the water environment such as sediment and nutrient inputs from land to achieve clean and plentiful water targets.

You’ll act as a point of contact for our area teams. You’ll promote strategic tools, guidance, mapping products and resources, to enable informed decision making and to improve service delivery to our customers. You’ll develop a network of woodland leads and a communication plan to increase awareness, knowledge and expertise across the organisation. You’ll identify training needs and deliver training such as courses, webinars, and information sessions.

You’ll also help to develop and manage the Environment Agency’s internal Trees and Woodland SharePoint and Intranet sites.

The team

The Ecology, Ecosystems and Geomorphology team is within the Nature Recovery team, which is in the Environment and Business Directorate. We are a small team providing leadership, strategic direction and technical support for woodland creation in the water environment; invasive non-native species and biosecurity; ecology; data custodianship; climate change adaptation; and strategic input into environmental planning.

Experience/skills Required

We are recruiting two posts as part of a team and you will be able to develop your role according to the skills you bring.

You should be able to demonstrate:

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent in a relevant technical discipline
• Good knowledge of pressures on the water environment and the way in which ecosystems respond.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Good communication and influencing skills
• Enjoy working with others and developing networks
  

Desirable

• A track record of delivering through others
• Knowledge of the environmental landscape and Environment Act
• Knowledge of tree and woodland management or an enthusiasm to learn more
  

Within your application, please use the text associated with your current and previous roles to add more information about your experience and skills as well as completing the capabilities.

Contact and additional information

This is a national role in a dispersed team and some travel is likely to be required. The base location is flexible. We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from candidates regardless of their race, sex, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity or marital status. We will consider part time and flexible applications for this role.

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll support you to find an incident role to suit your needs and circumstances. Appropriate training will be given.

For additional information please contact Alice Hiley, Senior Advisor, Ecology and Ecosystems. +442084746406, alice.hiley@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews will take place online on the 11th or 12th of September.

Competence 1

Achieves Results

Description

Describe a time when you achieved results and delivered work to a high standard. This should include examples of how you prioritised and organised the task, responded to set backs, and ensured timely achievement of results.

Your answer to this question may be used to initially sift applications. Please take your time to answer this question thoroughly.

Competence 2

Builds and Sustains Relationships

Description

Give an example of how you have developed and maintained effective working relationships. We’re particularly interested in how you have built trust and open communication throughout your networks.

Competence 3

Communicates Effectively

Description

Give examples of how you have communicated effectively in current or previous roles. This should include how you used a full range of communication methods to convey ideas clearly and accurately.

Competence 4

Influences and Persuades Others

Description

Provide an example of a time when you had to influence a team or an individual to adopt your point of view, despite initial resistance? We’re particularly interested in the approaches you took and the outcomes you achieved.

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.