4222 - Fisheries and Biodiversity Officer

We look forward to welcoming an experienced ecologist, specialising in UK conservation and river ecology into our team at Sentinel House.
Biodiversity Officers screen applications we receive, for hydropower, planning permission, land drainage consents, flood alleviation schemes, routine maintenance works, flood risk schemes, water resources abstraction. We then provide advice on legal duties, identify risk and promote opportunities to protect and restore protected habitats, species and designated sites, while also ensuring no deterioration in ecological status, hydro-morphology and favourable status of Sites of Specials Scientific Interest under the Water Framework Directive.

We support the Environment Agency response to major incidents, particularly mitigating impact, gathering evidence and supporting enforcement action where protected species, habitats or sites are at risk or where environmental damage of hydro-morphological harm has occurred.
We assess the environment, make evidence-based management decisions and influence stakeholders as we discharge our statutory duties under key environmental legislation and the Water Framework Directive. Communication, building and sustaining relationships, influencing and direct project management skills are important qualities in the role.

We engage with partners and customers to promote sustainable catchment management using an ecosystems services approach and lead on biosecurity, particularly in the water environment.

We are a high performing, professional team with a robust core of technical experts, who protect and improve the environment and make it a better place for people and wildlife. We work closely with a wide range of partners to protect endangered species, their habitats and designated sites. We make sure there is enough water for people and wildlife; reduce the risk of flooding; protect and improve air, land and water quality.

A relevant first degree is essential, ideally specialising in UK river corridor ecology and conservation.
You will need to be an effective team worker, communicator, influencer and collaborator. For example you will communicate legal duties, scientific evidence environmental risks and opportunities clearly and concisely. You will have a track record building relationships and achieving buy-in from unwilling stakeholders.

You plan and manage your time and team tasks efficiently and are comfortable adapting to changing priorities.
You will have detailed knowledge and practical expertise in conservation and UK river corridor ecology, the species and habitats we protect and the legal duties we discharge or regulate. You will understand how our activities and those of our customers interact with the environment, the potential constraints and have a good focus on supporting our customers to undertake their activities sustainably, mitigate detrimental impact and promote restoration of water bodies and river corridors.

Closing Date: 11th March 2017 at 23:55 hours

Phil Wormald
Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team Leader
Staffordshire Warwickshire and West Midlands

philip.wormald@environment-agency.gov.uk
Sentinel House, 9 Wellington Crescent,
Fradley Park, Lichfield, Staffordshire WS13 8RR

The health, safety and well-being of our staff is of the highest importance. The duties of this role include; driving, work in or near water, lone working and traversing uneven ground on river banks and flood risk management assets. There are genuine occupational requirements of mobility in the countryside and on river banks, to be a competent swimmer and hold a full driving licence valid in the UK.

How have you applied your technical knowledge and practical experience of UK river corridor conservation and ecology and understanding of business, to protect our native biodiversity?

How have you developed and maintained effective working relationships to understand and achieve objectives which benefit both you and stakeholders? What risks or benefits have emerged in sustaining relationships over time and in times of success or challenge? What key relationships would you need to forge as a Biodiversity Officer?

What experience and techniques have you used to influence others and persuade them to support approaches which achieve your objectives? How did you address conflicting objectives and barriers to progress to achieve buy-in from reluctant stakeholders?

What experience of managing projects professionally do you have and what will be your priorities and approach to developing, building support for, planning and delivering projects to achieve our environmental objectives?