The team
Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?
If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature. We’re looking for people with technical know-how, with a passion for nature and the environment, who want to make a real difference, and who enjoy working in a team.
The Priority Work Natural England Is Delivering Includes
- Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
- Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change;
- Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
- Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
- Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing.
We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings 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 the nation’s wellbeing, prosperity, and happiness – that’s why Natural England collaborates with scientists, lawyers, project managers and experts to implement environmental policy and shape decisions.
Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
About The Role
Science, evidence, and analysis is at the heart of Natural England's advice, operations, and regulatory activity. We are building new, more efficient, and effective approaches to achieve our goals, using the latest technologies and analytical approaches to enhance Natural England’s substantial conservation expertise.
As a Deputy Director of Data Science Services within the Analysis Directorate, you will work alongside other experts to drive forward the strategic direction and operational delivery of science, evidence and analysis across Natural England.
You will have responsibility for developing Natural England’s data and analysis, advising the organisation on how to use data in innovative ways to enhance decision-making, and leading changes in culture, capability and technical infrastructure to achieve this. You will ensure that all staff in Natural England have access to the best available data, that Natural England has the capacity and capability to analyse data effectively and efficiently, and that data products influence policy and practice. You will be a champion for innovation, robust processes and quality assurance, and excellent delivery in data and analysis.
You will oversee work across digital infrastructure, data management / engineering, spatial / non-spatial analysis (including mapping, modelling, and provision of statistics), and data science. Yours is a national team consisting of around 100 staff in total. You will be supported by a senior team of committed data and analysis professionals, including 4 direct reports.
You will be working with policymakers, national advisers, and operational teams deploying solutions on the ground. You will collaborate with professionals across government and in academia.
See more about the work of Natural England at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
Key Accountabilities
- Building data and analysis capability and skills across Natural England, including overseeing the implementation and development of Natural England’s Data Maturity Assessment and Roadmap and meeting requirements of the Government Analysis Functional Standard.
- Identifying and exploiting opportunities provided by advances in analytical platforms and toolkits and from methodological innovations including in particular those from the field of data science (e.g. data mining, deep learning, AI).
- Ensuring that improvements in infrastructure and capability within Natural England (including new geospatial platforms) fit with and benefit from Defra group and wider government developments in digital, data and analysis.
- Leading a large and multi-disciplinary team (including 4 direct reports), supporting learning and development, and instilling a supportive culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Showing a customer focus in working effectively with policy, operational / delivery, and analytical colleagues at senior levels in Natural England and other departments and agencies.
- Fulfilling duties as part of CSD’s senior leadership team, including providing senior analytical input as a member of NE’s governance structures (such as Programme Boards and DDAT-focused groups) and deputising for the Director of Analysis as required.
- Being a figurehead for the development of data and analysis in Natural England, demonstrating expert knowledge of at least one of the following areas: digital/data infrastructure, data management, spatial / non-spatial analysis, data science.
- Delivering analytical projects through robust and efficient delivery processes, demonstrating knowledge of analysis in government and government regulatory frameworks (e.g. the Code of Practice for Statistics and the Aqua Book).
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.
Benefits
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.
Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.
You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a work-life balance that works for you and us.
You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.
Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.
We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our Diversity Action Plan.
Locations
Natural England is adopting 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. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week.
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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations
Pay
It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range.
How To Apply
We 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.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
- Personal Effectiveness
- Leading & managing People
- Work Delivery
- Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
- Technical Skills & Knowledge
When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR 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 doing so.
Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.
Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.
Recruitment Framework
Competencies
Competence 1
Professional competency
Personal Effectiveness
Description
- Develop your personal impact skills in influencing, thought leadership, assertiveness by applying expertise in a proportionate and appropriate way and communicating to have impact (Expert)
Competence 2
Professional competency
Leading and managing people
Description
- Encourage, inspire, and support people to be ambitious, creative, and innovative, and to reflect, celebrate and learn lessons from their work. (Expert)
- Lead by example, engage, and support your team through change (Expert)
Competence 3
Professional competency
Work Delivery
Description
- 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 4
Professional competency
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
Description
- Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (Expert)
- Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England (Expert)
Competence 5
Professional competency
Technical Skills & Knowledge
Description
- In-depth knowledge of data science approaches, data management principles (including understanding of statutory and other standards for data and analysis), and data infrastructure.