River Derwent SSSI Restoration Higher Officer - ( Ref : 6835 )

Location

Yorkshire and the Humber

About the job

Job summary

This position can be based at Leeds or York.

The Team Area

The Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Team is probably one of the most varied and exciting teams within Natural England. Sweeping down from the uplands of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the South Pennines it encompasses the urban and industrial areas of South and West Yorkshire and the agricultural lowlands of the East Riding before reaching the beautiful Yorkshire Coast, the Humber Estuary (one of the busiest ports in the country) and the sea beyond.

Job description

River Derwent River Restoration

The Yorkshire River Derwent Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) covers a 70 km stretch of the river from Ryemouth, through Kirkham Gorge and the Lower Derwent valley floodplain, to its confluence with the River Ouse at Barmby on the Marsh.

A Restoration Plan Restoring the Yorkshire Derwent River Restoration Plan (June 2010) was produced by the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England, and was designed to restore the SSSI/SAC towards favourable condition.

The River Derwent River Restoration Officer will help deliver priority river restoration actions to benefit the River Derwent SSSI/SAC and also help support delivery of the Derwent Catchment Management Plan, The North and East Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategies and in restoring Priority Habitat in the catchment.

The post will also develop medium term actions and projects identified in the wider River Derwent River Restoration Plan between 2025 and 2030 (the Restoration Plan Actions).

The restoration projects will be developed and delivered via various routes, including in partnership with landowners, NGOs and other stakeholders, supported by a range of funding streams.

Although the role will be primarily focused on the delivery of in-river and floodplain re-connection projects within the SSSI/SAC, the officer will also work closely with other NE staff working on River Derwent restoration work through Countryside Stewardship, Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF), Yorkshire Water and Environment Agency casework, and projects at the Lower Derwent Valley National Nature Reserve (NNR).

The role reports to a Senior Manager for line management, while technical advice and support is provided by our Responsible Officer for the River Derwent SSSI, Senior Freshwater Adviser and other staff from relevant work areas.

Job Description

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

The post holder will undertake the following key tasks:

Engage with landowners/land managers and stakeholders, including statutory undertakers and agencies, to deliver improvements to the condition of the River Derwent SSSI/SAC.

Drive forward restoration projects identified in the River Derwent River Restoration Optioneering Project (completed in 2025). This project identified 10 high potential restoration sites, and the River Restoration Officer will use the data and information gathered and contacts made in this project to develop and deliver several of these priority restoration projects. The Officer will co-ordinate links into other relevant projects and work in the catchment that will help to achieve the Restoration Plan.

Work collaboratively with partners to develop and submit funding bids, in partnership with farmers, landowners and other interested parties for the schemes identified.

Work with farmers, landowners and other interested parties to secure detailed designs for implementation of river restoration schemes and achieve delivery on the ground.

Take additional opportunities to develop river restoration actions beyond the core priorities as they present themselves e.g. support NNR, CSF and Catchment Partnership work, and work with wider regulatory bodies to promote compliance.

Plan projects and develop actions for the remaining optioneering study sites to prepare for post 2030 delivery.

Provide Secretariat for the River Derwent SSSI Officers Group (stakeholder delivery group). Arrange quarterly group meetings, develop meeting agendas, collate minutes and manage actions.

Deliver quarterly and annual progress reports on a schedule of work for the Project.

Take responsibility for ensuring personal safe working in line with corporate guidance.

This role will require close working with both area team and national colleagues to support and drive nature recovery.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

The post holder will need to demonstrate experience in the following key areas.

A good knowledge of river restoration techniques and will have expertise of coordinating their delivery at scale. (Essential)

A good knowledge of freshwater ecology, priority habitats, species and protected freshwater sites regulatory mechanisms. (Essential)

A strong understanding of lowland river geomorphological processes and restoration. (Essential)

A good knowledge of agri-environment grant schemes and how to apply them appropriately to delivery of river restoration, including capital works. (Desirable)

Project Management, Land Manager Liaison, Community Engagement skills to a good working level. (Essential)

This role requires the ability to provide high-quality advice to customers and partners. The role holder must be able to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing (Essential).

Experience of building pragmatic working relationships with partners and stakeholders. (Essential)

A relevant academic qualification or significant equivalent industry experience and knowledge will be required alongside the ability to gain additional technical knowledge at pace. (Essential)

Competence in the use of IT and the ability to drive for site visits will also be necessary. (Essential)

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:

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, 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.

The role will require travel to sites and meetings across team areas. A driving licence is required for the role.

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Detail

Personal effectiveness

Description

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Basic).