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East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the HumberJob SummaryThis position is based NationallyJob DescriptionJoin us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive. Whether you’re drawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for the environment and society.Our RoleNatural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and theNature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.Strategic Outcomes for NatureOur strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each of these outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental, social and economic actions critical to thriving nature.Recovering Nature– Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.Building Better Places– Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.Improving Health and Wellbeing– Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.Delivering Security through Nature– Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentiful water and clean air.Find out more about the work of Natural England atNatural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security -GOV.UKThe RoleThis role is a rare opportunity to play a part in bringing about systematic change to the planning system and planning casework.We are seeking ambitious individuals with great communication and organisational skills to join our highly performing, supportive and friendly teams across Natural England’s Sustainable Development work.Job DescriptionJob PurposeIn this challenging, high-profile role, you will lead the Comms & Engagement function of the Nature Restoration Fund, providing sound leadership and technical support to colleagues whilst driving critical delivery around Business Readiness.Whilst you’ll have hands on involvement shaping communications and engagement, there will be elements of project management to ensure what we do is delivered on time.The immediate challenges you’ll lead on will centre around preparing stakeholders and the organisation for the Nature Restoration Fund. Working across the team, you’ll play a strategic role in ensuring timely delivery of assets and products, whether that be briefings, in person events or virtual forums, to ensure key information is shared at the right time.Key Tasks/Principal AccountabilitiesDevelop, lead and organise the communications for the Nature Restoration Fund, with an immediate focus on Business Readiness and Consultations.Supporting Senior Advisors in critical Comms & Engagement delivery across Business Readiness, Consultation and other external communication.Co-ordinate and project manage communications and engagement tasks, ensuring stakeholders receive go-live information in a timely fashion.Influence, advise and develop networks to enhance links across the team, within the organisation and other key contacts and stakeholders; actively maintain engagement in a timely manner to achieve effective contribution to outcomes.Establish a strong profile for the programmes internally and enable a good flow of intelligence and feedback across the business, including planning and delivering internal engagement opportunities alongside our communications business partner.Work with other teams, including External Affairs, Private Office and account managers to establish how programme level engagement will complement and build on existing relationships.Plan and deliver virtual and face-to-face events to support and amplify Natural England’s/NRF’s vision and mission.Contribute to and support reactive communications as required (MP letters, Stakeholder letters, Parliamentary questions, etc.).Be prepared to work flexibly to deliver ad-hoc outcomes as required in a high pressure and fastmoving change environment.Using creative acumen to devise new and innovative ways to engage colleagues and stakeholders.Knowledge, Skills & ExperienceExperience of providing leadership to a Comms & Engagement Team. (Essential)Experience of planning Comms & Engagement in a challenging project environment (Essential)Experience of leading business readiness activity – ensuring stakeholders know what to do and by when (Essential)Ability to work at pace, with autonomy, to produce detailed stakeholder engagement plans and activities (Essential)Experience of tailoring messages to specific audiences, both internal and external, using a range of materials for engagement. (Essential)Experience of delivering impactful verbal and written communications. (Essential)Able to work effectively across teams and build strong, collaborative relationshipsAbility to provide strategic communications advice at a senior level, linking team work to wider organisational goals (Essential)Able to work confidently in busy and complex environments, making sound decisions and managing risks. (Essential)Confident user of Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams Functionality (Webinar, Live) (Essential)Experience with public consultation processes (Desirable)BenefitsAt Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, parttime, and flexible working arrangements.We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training, and development tailored to your role. This includes ten days annually for personal learning and development, plus three additional days for volunteering.You’ll receive a leave allowance of 25 days per year (pro rata), increasing by one day for each year of service up to 30 days (pro-rata), access to the Civil Service Pension scheme with a 28.97% employer contribution, and a range of benefits such as shopping discounts and a cycle-to-work scheme. Staff can also join the Civil Service Sport club for discounts on sports, leisure activities, and social events.We are committed to fairness, equality, and inclusivity. Our employee-led diversity networks help foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supportedLocationsNatural England has adopted hybrid working – which means our staff work from a flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England, and the expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the community of staff in their geographical area. Staff are expected to attend their associated office for 20% of their contractual hours.Staff members are required to carry out all their duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel expenses will be paid if work-related travel is required but does not apply to travel between home and your associated office.National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be linked with an office in the relevant geographic area.View a map of our office locations here: online map of Natural England office locations PayIt is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.You will become an active member of the relevant local leadership community, the group of senior Natural England staff in each of the localities across England who we ask to provide support and co-ordination for the local group of staff.How to ApplyWe welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We’ll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:Technical Skills and KnowledgePersonal EffectivenessWork DeliveryPutting People at the Heart of the EnvironmentWhen completing the application form you should present relevant examples using theSTAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency(which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your Action.Please note that STAR format is not required when answering a Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description.Please note: Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.CompetenciesCompetence 1Professional competencyDetailTechnical Skills and KnowledgeDescriptionProven leadership of Comms & Engagement teams, ideally in a Business Readiness/Change setting Proven track record of delivering effective communications across complex, multi stakeholder programmes, managing multiple activities simultaneously. Experience leading, planning and delivering Comms & Engagement within a project or programme environment to support business readiness. Skills translating technical policy into real world, applicable actions for stakeholders. In depth Knowledge of Comms & Engagement across Whitehall, interdependencies between departments and Civil Service C&E process knowledge (Desirable)Competence 2Professional competencyDetailPersonal EffectivenessDescriptionBe ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and your organisation and inspire others to act (Expert). Share expertise and knowledge with people and networks so that you can develop together (Expert). Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (Practitioner).Competence 3Professional competencyDetailWork DeliveryDescriptionManage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert). See the big picture so you can set your team’s work within the context of the organisation’s vision, mission and aims, and help them understand how their work relates to and supports this (Expert).Competence 4Professional competencyDetailPutting People at the Heart of the EnvironmentDescriptionListen to and understand diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and your organisation (Expert).Join us in shaping a future where nature and people thrive. Whether you’re drawn to hands-on conservation or playing a vital part behind the scenes, your work at Natural England will support lasting benefits for the environment and society.Our RoleNatural England is the Government’s adviser for the natural environment and theNature regulator with a wide range of statutory duties and powers. We provide the evidence, expertise and advice to recover Nature and shape better places for people to live. We do this working through and with others.Strategic Outcomes for NatureOur strategy is framed through four strategic outcomes. Each of these outcomes reinforces and amplifies the others, and together they address environmental, social and economic actions critical to thriving nature.Recovering Nature– Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.Building Better Places– Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.Improving Health and Wellbeing– Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.Delivering Security through Nature– Nature helps us adapt to the threats of a changing climate and improves our national security, supporting more resilient food production, healthy soils, clean and plentiful water and clean air.Find out more about the work of Natural England atNatural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security -GOV.UKThe RoleThis role is a rare opportunity to play a part in bringing about systematic change to the planning system and planning casework.We are seeking ambitious individuals with great communication and organisational skills to join our highly performing, supportive and friendly teams across Natural England’s Sustainable Development work.DescriptionListen to and understand diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and your organisation (Expert).Person specificationPlease Refer To Job DescriptionAlongside your salary of £53,550, Natural England contributes £15,513 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process detailsPlease Refer To Job DescriptionFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob Contact :Name : Liz SopwithEmail : liz.sopwith@naturalengland.org.ukRecruitment teamEmail : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.ukFurther informationhttps://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6492-6492-Principal-Business-Change-Communications-Engagement-Manager/en-GB
