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 Role
Natural England is the Governments adviser for the natural environment and the Nature 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 Nature
Our 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.
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Recovering Nature Increased scale and quality of places where nature thrives.
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Building Better Places Greener homes and infrastructure create healthier, more investable places, recognising we live better where nature thrives around us.
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Improving Health and Wellbeing Build nature into everyday life so people can support, access and benefit from nature, wherever they live.
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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 at:
Natural Englands Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK
Job description
The Social Science team is based within the Science Directorate of the Chief Scientists Directorate in Natural England. The Directorate is responsible for Natural Englands Science, Evidence and Evaluation Strategy and supports its implementation to ensure Natural England is an evidence-led organisation.
We are an interdisciplinary team and welcome applications from candidates with different disciplinary backgrounds and specialisms within the social sciences.
Our mission, to build partnerships for natures recovery, reflects the need for us to work with and through a wide range of people. In order to do this effectively, we need to understand people: to work with diverse ways of knowing, experiencing and thinking about the natural environment; understand behaviour and what drives it; understand how we engage with nature (or why we don't); as well as how best to work together towards delivering thriving nature for people and planet.
The post holder will join a dynamic and welcoming team of social scientists and lead on a number of social science evidence projects in response to Natural England priorities and work programmes.
The nature of the work may change over time, responding to organisational priorities. We are therefore seeking a permanent social science specialist who can be flexible and adaptable, with the ability to provide social science thought leadership and insights across Natural Englands programmes as the need arises. We employ social scientists with a broad set of knowledge and skills although we are currently particularly interested in increasing skills to input to a large Accredited Official Statistics survey.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
In 2020, Natural England, working with Defra, launched the People & Nature Survey. This built on and replaced the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment. The survey is governments primary source of evidence on engagement with nature, experiences in green and natural places, and environmental attitudes and behaviours for both England and Wales.
The post holder will be responsible for overseeing research design, analysis and presentation of results, with a focus on the Childrens People and Nature Survey. As well as building partnerships with academia, across government and the third sector and with survey users to maximise the research value for the survey, they will work with Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Defra colleagues, contractors and external stakeholders to maximise the research impact of the survey. The post-holder will lead on social science / technical input, as well as supporting the Senior Responsible Officer, survey steering group and project team in strategy and decision making. Work areas will vary but may also include some of the following:
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Contributing to the development and delivery of NEs Services and Enabling teams, including helping to scope opportunities where social science evidence and approaches can support programme delivery.
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Involvement in external networks to promote the use and impact of social science within the natural environment sector.
We are seeking someone who is confident and capable of working at a strategic level and with the ability to quickly understand and respond to current needs and challenges.
The role of the senior specialist for social science includes:
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Leading social science input to Childrens People and Nature survey, including developing research questions and identifying and prioritising themes for analysis (e.g. inequalities and access, climate change concern). Providing quality assurance for products and publications based on PANs/CPANs data and leading evaluation of the survey. Oversee survey review and development (including methodological and ensuring quality and compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics and accredited official statistics). Working with wider Defra policy teams team to ensure the survey meets data and evidence needs, and that results are understood and used.
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Undertaking primary research (e.g. quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods) including research design, data collection and analysis (methodological approach dependent on successful candidates knowledge and expertise) in line with organisational needs to support social science delivery against Natural Englands priorities. Development oversight/project management and quality assurance of other colleagues social research in NE, including support for procurement and contract management of research projects.
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Providing evidence based social science advice and guidance in relation to a wide range of NEs work (for example, to help progress the effectiveness and scope of the People and Nature Survey). Provide analysis and synthesis of critical evidence to support Natural England teams (including rapid evidence reviews, policies and summary briefings). Delivery of workshops, webinars and presentations to raise awareness of social science research findings and support others to use and understand these to maximise the robustness of research delivered across NE.
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Supporting the Social Science Team to continue to deliver and improve on our evidence standards and impact on priority areas of NE work. Working in and helping to build interdisciplinary teams, including with our Natural Capital and Economics Team and Evaluation Team.
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Maintaining their specialism (keeping up to date with the latest research/developments in their specialist area of environmental social science expertise), including contributing to relevant networks (for example, the cross-government Natural Environment Social Research Network) and building links with social researchers and analysts in the Government Social Research (GSR) community.
The exact work areas to be supported will depend on the successful candidates knowledge and expertise and responsibilities will develop and change over time. The post holder will need to maintain a flexible and adaptable attitude and approach and will be expected at times to use their skills in an agile way, working outside their core specialism as required by Natural England.
The cross-cutting nature of the role means there is significant scope for personal development and developing areas of personal interest. The post holder will be provided with support in the role by Senior and Principal Specialists working on social science. We also have a strong informal and formal training offer.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
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A good under-graduate and post-graduate degree in a specific environmental and social, science specialism or equivalent relevant experience.
- At least two-years of post-graduate work experience in the application of a specific environmental and social science specialism.
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Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body (or be eligible).
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Be considered by their organisation and external partners as a recognised expert in their individual area of specialism, with clear external profile and credibility.
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Ability to apply effective communications skills (verbal and written) in communicating about their specialism to multiple audiences (staff, public, stakeholders, scientific/technical groups).
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Ability to gather and synthesise evidence, interpret, and use it to inform and influence decision-making.
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Experienced in producing impactful evidence, reflecting their understanding of Natural Englands and partners needs.
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Experience of working effectively as part of a team and explaining complex specific environmental and social science specialism concepts in a meaningful way to Specialists, non-specialists, and scientific/technical groups.
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Experience of building and leading networks and establishing effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
Benefits
At Natural England, we support a healthy work-life balance by offering full-time, part-time, 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.
Youll receive a generous 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 supported.
Locations
Natural 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
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. 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. Please be aware that we reserve the right for roles that receive a high volume of applications to initially sift applications for one competence only.
Competencies
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Technical Skills and Knowledge
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Personal Effectiveness
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Work Delivery
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Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
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 Action.
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.
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.
As with all roles in NE, these roles require office attendance of a minimum of 20% of the working time one day per week for those who work full time, subject to any reasonable adjustments and/or existing contractual homeworking.
Competencies
Competence 1
Professional competency
Detail
Technical Skills and Knowledge
Description
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Demonstrable specialist knowledge of social science research, including within interdisciplinary teams, at expert level with at least two years of post-graduate work experience in identifying needs and evidence gaps, designing, delivering and analysing robust research (quantitative and/or qualitative) / and or applying research for impact. (Essential)
Knowledge of relevant research themes (e.g. children in nature, environmental/ conservation social science, behavioural science, social norms change, environmental justice, community engagement, health and wellbeing determinants and links between environment and health, environmental inequalities, governance and accountability) (Essential)
Working knowledge of social research surveys, in particular the People and Nature Survey, Adults and Childrens surveys. (Essential)
Working knowledge of the Office for Statistical Regulations Code of Practice for Statistics and application of the code. (Essential)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to present complex ideas simply, to a wide range of audiences. (Essential)
Competence 2
Professional competency
Detail
Personal Effectiveness
Description
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Research, produce and contribute to specialist products such as articles, think pieces, peer reviewed papers, reports and conference presentations for both general and technical readerships, both internal and external. (Expert)
Develop your personal impact skills in influencing, thought leadership, assertiveness by applying expertise in a proportionate and appropriate way and communicating to have impact. (Practitioner)
Test and challenge others in a constructive and evidence-based way providing scientific scrutiny, challenge and assurance so that the guidance you provide is practical and, where appropriate, cross-disciplinary. (Expert)
Competence 3
Professional competency
Detail
Work Delivery
Description
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Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Expert)
Understand evaluation and apply it to your work at an appropriate scale in order to identify the impact of our evidence or interventions and opportunities for improvement. (Practitioner)
Identify and apply the most appropriate data and methodologies for your analysis, utilising reproducible analytical pipelines and data science approaches where appropriate. (Practitioner)
Competence 4
Professional competency
Detail
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
Description
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Build relationships and effective networks both externally and internally to bring in fresh perspectives, approaches and evidence to raise the profile of both your individual specialist work and that of the organisation you represent. (Expert)
Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature. (Practitioner)
