Senior Advisor - Spatial Planning / Growing Nature - 34395
CompanyEnvironment Agency
Location
Bodmin, England, United Kingdom
Employment TypeFull-time
Posted At4/13/2026
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Occupation TypeHorticultural trades
Occupation Code Skill LevelMedium Skilled
Sponsorship EligibilityIneligible for Sponsorship
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Description
You may also provide line management, supporting capability, wellbeing and performance, and helping to build a positive, inclusive and learning focused team culture.
You may be asked to work on other programmes of work as required.
Line management experience would be an advantage but is not essential.
You’ll have access to a range of development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided.
Job Description
The Environment Agency are committed to having an inclusive workforce, reflecting 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.
Do you want to join the Environment Agency to shape and support the role it plays in spatial planning and nature recovery?
We are recruiting a Senior Advisor within our national Planning and Place team, leading and shaping our work on nature recovery through the spatial planning system. This is an important role at the heart of how we enable growth and development to deliver better outcomes for nature, climate resilience and environmental capacity.
Key Responsibilities
You may be asked to work on other programmes of work as required.
Line management experience would be an advantage but is not essential.
You’ll have access to a range of development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided.
Job Description
The Environment Agency are committed to having an inclusive workforce, reflecting 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.
Do you want to join the Environment Agency to shape and support the role it plays in spatial planning and nature recovery?
We are recruiting a Senior Advisor within our national Planning and Place team, leading and shaping our work on nature recovery through the spatial planning system. This is an important role at the heart of how we enable growth and development to deliver better outcomes for nature, climate resilience and environmental capacity.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Environment Agency’s spatial planning approach to nature recovery.
- Shaping legislation, policy and guidance, including leading Government consultation responses; with a current focus on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
- Managing work programmes, including governance, budget planning and reporting.
- Supporting our cross organisation thinking on nature recovery led growth, including alignment with our operational teams and key national programme leads, and supporting consistent implementation approaches.
- Supporting work of the team on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS).
- Collaborating with colleagues across national policy teams to strengthen alignment between nature recovery and other spatial planning policies, including BNG, LNRS, Nature Restoration Fund/Environmental Delivery Plans, climate adaptation plans, and wider planning and investment programmes.
You may be asked to work on other programmes of work as required.
The team
You’ll join our supportive and professional Planning and Place Team within the Environment & Business Directorate. We lead on sustainable places and integrated environmental and spatial planning; technical leadership; and workforce planning for Sustainable Places.
In Environment & Business we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued. While geographically dispersed, we excel at remote collaboration and work and collaborate in person at our offices across the country.
Experience/skills Required
We are looking for candidates with a strong mix of skills and experience, including:
- Strong understanding of nature recovery and environmental legislation and policy, and the ability to translate this into practical tools, guidance and ways of working.
- Knowledge and experience of Biodiversity Net Gain and other nature recovery policies in practice.
- Good understanding of the spatial planning system and how it can be used to support environmental outcomes.
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, including with senior policy leads.
- Experience working in the environment or planning sector, or ability to demonstrate relevant transferable skills.
- Project/programme management experience.
- Ability to prioritise and manage complex workloads.
You’ll have access to a range of development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided.
Contact and additional information
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Please read the Packs attached for information. Any queries, contact christopher.rowett@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams approximately two weeks after 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
Shapes organisational approach & delivery
Description
Description: Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment.
Question: Please tell us about a time when you worked across multiple teams, departments or organisations to inform or shape policy relevant to spatial planning, environmental regulation or nature recovery, and to support its translation into practical delivery. What was your role, how did you influence the approach taken, and what impact did this have on outcomes?
Competence 2
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
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.
Question: Describe a time when you successfully influenced a key stakeholder to change their position on a major project or piece of work. How did you approach this, why did you choose that approach, and what was the outcome in terms of actions or behaviours?
Competence 3
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
Question: Give an example of when you have had to make a timely decision based on incomplete or evolving information.
Achieves Results
Description
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
Question: Please describe a time when you overcame significant challenges within a complex project or piece of work to successfully deliver high‑quality results. What obstacles did you face, how did you address them, and what was achieved?
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.
Question: Describe a time when you successfully influenced a key stakeholder to change their position on a major project or piece of work. How did you approach this, why did you choose that approach, and what was the outcome in terms of actions or behaviours?
Competence 3
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
Question: Give an example of when you have had to make a timely decision based on incomplete or evolving information.
- What was the situation?
- What were the key factors?
- How did you make your decision?
- What was the outcome?
- Would you do it differently another time?
Achieves Results
Description
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
Question: Please describe a time when you overcame significant challenges within a complex project or piece of work to successfully deliver high‑quality results. What obstacles did you face, how did you address them, and what was achieved?
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.
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. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.