About the job

Summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

We are the Government’s statutory advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. This describes an ambitious vision, bringing new opportunities to protect and enhance, and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

At Natural England, we love what we do. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. A healthy natural environment is fundamental to our wellbeing, prosperity and happiness – that’s why we collaborate with scientists, lawyers, project managers and experts to implement environmental policy and shape decisions.

We work with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and customers on a huge range of projects, from influencing construction, advising farmers and landowners how they can manage their land in a sustainable way for the benefit of the environment, gathering and analysing environmental data, and carrying out vital statutory duties. Across the country, we’re helping nature to support people and our planet.

We are focusing our efforts on six key programmes:

• Greener Farming and Fisheries – supporting those who manage land and sea to operate in harmony with the environment

• Sustainable Development – creating great places for people to live and work

• Connecting People with Nature - promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors

• Resilient Landscapes and Seas – protecting and restoring wildlife and natural beauty for future generations

• Specialist Science and Evidence - an evidence-led organisation that is driven by science

• Managing the Organisation – gathering business data to enable decision making

Natural England staff are inclusive, motivated and ambitious to achieve results for our environment, for everyone. We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and maintain their health and wellbeing.

From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes.

See more about the work of Natural England at:-

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

The Team

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach that contributes to sustainable development where land is developed and the natural environment is put in a measurable better state than before. This means protecting existing habitats and ensuring that lost or degraded environmental features are compensated for by restoration, or by creating features that are of greater environmental value.

The Environment Act 2021 makes provision for the BNG approach to development to become mandatory in the English planning system. It will require planning applicants to deliver 10% BNG, as measured by the Biodiversity Metric, on their own development site or at an offsite location. This will be a condition of planning permissions granted by Local Planning Authorities.

To ensure BNG is implemented consistently and transparently under the Act, there will need to be two new digital services: (i) the Biodiversity Gain Site Register (a publicly accessible record of sites delivering BNG across England), and (ii) a Biodiversity Credits scheme. Natural England is working to develop these new digital services in close coordination with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Job description

Salary Information: £32,438 - £38,689 Whilst it is NE’s policy to appoint at salary minimum a higher starting salary within the pay range may be considered for exceptional candidates

As a Solicitor specialising in BNG matters within our Legal Services Team, assisting on the establishment and delivery of this high-profile project for Natural England, you'll be key to the development and operation of BNG. Whilst you will primarily deal with BNG as it is introduced and establishes itself, you will also support Natural England in emerging procurement and contract work. As part of this, you will provide support and advice on a wide range of commercial and contractual matters to assist Natural England’s wider work across all programmes.

Your responsibilities will be as follows:

• Provide legal advice and analysis of legal risk on a range of contractual, public law and planning matters related to the development of BNG and supporting the BNG Principal solicitor on a wider range of matters related to both: (i) the development and launch; and (ii) the ongoing delivery of BNG.

• Objectively analyse primary and secondary legislation, policy and contractual agreements and distil this into concise, practical briefings.

• Advising on governance and vires issues relating to any delegation of powers, formal directions or contractual relationships that are needed to clearly establish Natural England’s functions, roles and/or duties pursuant to the Environment Act 2021.

• Provide legal advice and analysis of legal risk on a range of commercial and contractual matters across Natural England’s work, ideally also advising on funding/grant agreements and intellectual property matters, procurement and/or data protection matters if required, and supporting Principal solicitors on a wider range of matters.

• Advising on the interaction between BNG and Conservation Covenants, as an important mechanism to secure BNG, which are also established through the Environment Act 2021.

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contractual arrangements. This will include using existing precedents and drafting bespoke contracts and may relate to BNG and other programmes as required.

• Assist the Legal Services team to deliver Natural England’s aims across its six key programmes

• Support Natural England’s delivery of its Conservation Strategy 21 and the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan

• Participate in groups internally and externally with Defra and others associated with natural environment matters.

• Participate in cross team working, including providing support for colleagues in the wider Governance team

• Representing Natural England Legal Services at meetings with Defra and other stakeholders/partners.

• Keeping abreast of legal developments relevant to BNG, nature conservation and Natural England matters nationally.

• The post holder will work with the BNG policy team and the Legal Services team on training both internally and externally, assisting the BNG Principal in improving links with key stakeholders involved in the development and delivery of BNG.

• Instructing Counsel and/or other external legal providers as appropriate.

• Participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups as directed from time to time.

• Collaborating with existing Senior and Principal Solicitors, the wider Legal, Governance and External Affairs team and Access to Information team. Supporting the Head of Legal

Services, Director of Legal Services and Chief Officer for Legal, Governance and External Affairs to provide an exemplary legal service to Natural England.

• Supporting the development of the legal team’s profile both internally and externally including improving links with key stakeholders

• Travel and some overnight stays, mainly in London but also other locations in England to attend meetings and hearings

This is a National role and can be based at any of our Natural England offices - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england/about/access-and-opening

Candidates with disabilities will automatically be put forward to the interview stage provided that they satisfy the minimum criteria for the role. Flexible working patterns will generally be accommodated unless stated otherwise.

How to Apply

We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process. When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. STAR stands for:

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Result

Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency. Please ensure you read the Candidate Information Pack before you begin completing the application form.

Competencies

Competence 1 - Professional competency

Detail

Technical and Specialist Knowledge (STAR format not needed for this competency)

Description

• Qualified solicitor, 1-5 years PQE, capable of practising in England (essential)

• Have experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating contractual arrangements and legal documents (essential)

• Have demonstrated knowledge and experience of advising on public law and/or contractual matters (essential)

• Demonstrated experience working as part of a wider project team including various clients and stakeholders (essential)

• Be self-motivated, proactive and like solving problems (essential)

Competence 2 - Professional competency

Detail

Personal Effectiveness

Description

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (practitioner)

• Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence (expert)

• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (practitioner)

Competence 3 - Professional competency