An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology team as a Biodiversity Officer, working with our experienced officers providing biodiversity support in Kent and South London area. 

We work with government, local councils, businesses, and communities to make our environment cleaner, safer, and healthier for people and wildlife. We tackle the effects and causes of climate change, perhaps the most serious long-term threat to the environment that we face. 

Using your technical biodiversity experience and influencing skills you will help us protect and enhance the diverse habitats and wildlife of Kent and South London, to ensure development is sustainable and to deliver landscape-scale environmental outcomes. You will work to integrate benefits for wildlife and people into innovative flood risk management solutions. 

Additionally, you will: 

• Screen and advise on Environment Agency programmes, plans, and projects for biodiversity impacts to ensure compliance with relevant legislation. 
• Identifyopportunities to deliver multiple benefits, Natural Flood Management and working with natural processes, through river basin management and flood risk management planning and delivery 
• Proactively integrate biodiversity enhancements into Environment Agency plans and strategies
• Provide advice on high-risk Environment Agency permits and consents, and licences and planning applications to ensure that biodiversity and ecosystems are protected and, where relevant, enhanced

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect 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. 

You will be part of our passionate, dedicated, and enthusiastic Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team, within Local Operations, covering Kent, South London & East Sussex. 

A major focus of the team is inputting into Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management capital schemes, maintenance of assets, water company environmental programmes, and partnership working to deliver priority habitat creation, River Basin Management Plan mitigation measures, river restoration projects and planning advice. 

• Knowledge of natural capital and the ecosystems approach would be desirable
• Educated to degree level in an appropriate environmental discipline, or equivalent practical work experience 
• Thorough knowledge of water dependent habitats and species and their ecological requirements
• Understanding of riverine processes and a basic understanding of engineering techniques, softer techniques and mitigation measures 
• Biodiversity and cross-functional legislative knowledge, including Water Framework Directive and Habitats & Birds Directive Regulations; protected species; Wildlife & Countryside, CRoW, NERC and Environment Acts have knowledge of the planning process and policies  
• Strong focus on delivery of outcomes and, ideally, project management skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills are required and experience of building and developing partnerships is valuable 

Full UK driving licence is essential. 

You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided. 

Read the Candidate Pack and generic role profile for more information. 

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.  

The role will be based at Rivers House, Abbey Wood, however there is flexibility depending on personal circumstances.  

We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required. 

We offer a fantastic benefits package including an attractive salary, flexible working, 25 days annual leave, and an award-winning Pension Fund. See the candidate pack for more details. 

Any queries please do contact David Webb via [email protected] 
 
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. 
 
Interviews are planned to be held face to face at the end of March.