Job Description The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. We have an exciting opportunity for a Biodiversity Technical Specialist to join our Nuclear New Build (NNB) Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Team. The successful candidate will work across the multiple projects that sit under the NNB programme, including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, and future NNB projects. This is an excellent opportunity to help contribute to the UK’s net zero target and our responses to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. The post would be suited to anyone with experience Habitat regulations, ecology, conservation and environmental protection. The work will be technically challenging and high profile, with evidence-based decisions being made to tight timescales. As the Biodiversity Technical Specialist, you’ll work with area and national specialists, Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation, and Natural Resources Wales. There will be direct engagement with industry to influence their proposals to help achieve high standards of environmental protection. You’ll provide advice and guidance to nuclear developers before they apply for environmental permits to construct and operate the stations. You will then assess their permit applications under the Habitats Regulations, using your skills to interpret and assess the supporting evidence and data. The team We are the Nuclear New Build (NNB) Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Team. We deliver an important service to ensure that European sites are protected when issuing environmental permits for construction and operation of new nuclear power stations, under our duties as competent authority under the Habitats Regulations. We are a small friendly, nationally dispersed team of based in the Nature Recovery department of the Environment & Business (E&B) Directorate. Experience/skills Required You'll likely to have a background in biodiversity, ecology or air quality, preferably with experience of environmental impacts on protected habitats and species. You'll be able to analyse, present data clearly and communicate it to internal and external audiences. It's preferable for you to have some knowledge of air quality impacts. You will need: knowledge of the impact that activities such as water discharges, water abstractions, or aerial emissions have on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecology and how these impacts could be mitigated a good grasp of presenting and interpreting data using GIS and Office365 tools such as Word and Excel good communication, relationship-building, and team-working skills experience of influencing and persuading, dealing with challenging conversations and working with external stakeholders. good work planning skills, including the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided. Contact and additional information You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll support you to find a role to suit your needs and circumstances. Appropriate training will be given. You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible / hybrid. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required. Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack. Any queries, contact alison.batchelorenvironment-agency.gov.uk. Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of the closing date. If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post Competence 1 Influences and Persuades Others Description Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly, often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail. More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack. If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview. Feedback is generally not available at sift stage. Please tell us about a time you had to listen to others opinions and present a credible case to influence and persuade your audience. Competence 2 Takes Decisions and Solves Problems Description Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions. More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack. Please tell us about a time where you have used your previous experience/knowledge to analyse a situation and make an effective decision, with an element of problem solving. Competence 3 Communicates Effectively Description Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing. More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack. Please tell us about a time you had to communicate a complex piece of information to an audience, how did you ensure your message was understood? Competence 4 Legislative Knowledge Description Applied a knowledge of statutory environmental and technical requirements to protect both the Environment Agency and the environment. More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack. Please tell us about a time you used your legislative knowledge to inform a piece of work, how did you approach the task and how did you ensure your knowledge was up-to-to-date? 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.