Biodiversity Net Technical Specialist

Overview

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team on up to a 12‑month assignment as a Technical Specialist leading on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for the Yorkshire area. The successful candidate will become a technical expert on BNG, understand how it is assessed and measured, and coach and support others within Yorkshire on technical aspects of BNG, particularly the River

MoRPh and the rivers section of the Defra Metric.

• Work with the programme team, project managers and others to ensure BNG is embedded within the Flood and Coastal Risk Management capital programme and planned for at the earliest stages of each project.
• Identify efficiencies for projects to work in clusters to deliver meaningful BNG at a landscape scale.
• Build links between the FCRM programme and the Environment Programme to identify synergies and nature‑based solutions that maximise BNG.
• Co‑ordinate the delivery of BNG activities across the Yorkshire Biodiversity Team and the wider Fisheries, Geomorphology and Biodiversity Department.
• Provide training, guidance and technical support to colleagues and partners on the application of BNG and the Defra Metric.
• Advise on best practice for riverine, aquatic and wetland habitats and species management and restoration.

• Qualified to at least degree standard in a relevant discipline with considerable experience of nature conservation work.
• Knowledge of BNG assessment and the Defra Metric, especially riverine aspects.
• Good understanding of the ecology of riverine, aquatic and wetland habitats and species, and nature‑conservation management such as river and floodplain restoration.
• Familiarity with environmental and nature‑conservation legislation, government policy and strategy.
• Leadership, mentoring and coaching skills.
• Good planning, organisational and project‑management skills with a record of delivering high‑quality work on time and within budget.
• Advanced problem‑solving, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience of data and information management.
• Professional qualification or membership with a relevant professional body is preferred.

The role is hybrid, working across Yorkshire with a base office at one of our Yorkshire locations. Some travel and overnight stays may be required. Training will be provided and an inclusive incident management objective will be part of your development plan.

For any queries, please email ruth.clark

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, and are committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Applications are blind‑assessed using answers to competency questions and interviews will be held within three weeks of the closing date. If you consent to being held on a reserve list, details may be retained for up to six months.

Artificial intelligence may be used to support your application, but all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and derived from your own experience. Plagiarism or the use of AI to misrepresent your experience may result in withdrawal of the application or disciplinary action.