Natural England

Cumbria Protected Sites Strategy Senior Adviser

Contract: Fixed Term (up to 31/03/2025)

Salary: £32,438

Location: Northwest

This post is based in Kendal or Penrith

Play a vital role in contributing to the successful development of a Protected Sites Strategy for Cumbria.

At Natural England, we advise the UK Government on the natural environment. We’re here to make sure people and nature can thrive. From advising farmers on sustainable land management, to gathering and analysing environmental data, and promoting health and wellbeing through the great outdoors, we love what we do. Join us and you’ll be part of an inclusive, motivated and ambitious team, committed to achieving results for our environment, for everyone.

Protected Sites Strategies are a new set of powers for Natural England that form Section 110 of the Environment Act. You will be part of a team testing and developing the full potential for Protected Sites Strategies to secure Nature’s Recovery through meaningful collaborative commitments from partners to address impacts on the biodiversity and geodiversity of Protected Sites. Nutrient imbalance in air and water, overgrazing, neglect, recreational pressures and impacts from Climate Change are all in scope for Protected Sites Strategies.

The Cumbria Raised Mires PSS pilot will focus on 3 SSSIs in South Cumbria which are currently largely in unfavourable or declining condition, despite a long history of trying to achieve restoration. Nichols Moss SSSI, Duddon Mosses SSSI and Rusland Valley Mosses SSSI. The sites chosen together illustrate the range of issues which act as barriers to achieving recovery.

As the Protected Sites Strategy Senior Advisor, you will lead the work required to produce a Pilot Protected Sites Strategy, and report to the Cumbria Management Team. In delivering the strategy you will work closely with the SSSI Responsible Officer for the sites, and identify and engage with key stakeholders, including site owners and occupiers, local communities, and bodies such as the Lake District National Park Authority, Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Forestry Commission.

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities and, wherever possible, we accommodate requests for both full and part-time hours and other flexible working patterns. Everyone at Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You can also look forward to great benefits including a Civil Service pension.

If you’re inspired to protect and enhance England’s wildlife, and want to work for a leading science-led organisation, apply here

Closing Date: 27/06/2022  Location: Kendal or Penrith