London
East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber
Job Summary
This position is based Nationally
Job Description
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 Government’s 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.
Find out more about the work of Natural England at:
Natural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK
The Team
The Evidence Directorate is part of the Chief Scientists Directorate, it provides scientific and evidence leadership, services, and support to help Natural England (NE) operate as a science and evidence led organisation. The Team provides access to evidence for others, develops innovative approaches and tools, and manages a wide range of evidence programmes and projects. We lead on the Science, Evidence and Analysis Framework (SEAF) to help facilitate delivery of Natural England’s Strategy (Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security). We work closely with Defra and our Portfolios, alongside National and Area Delivery Teams.
Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Economist to lead a dynamic team driving review of some of the UK’s most ambitious nature recovery projects.
Landscape Recovery (LR) sits at the forefront of the Environmental Land Management schemes, alongside Sustainable Farming Incentive and Countryside Stewardship. It supports landowners and managers to deliver large-scale, transformational change for nature, bringing together multiple partners to restore landscapes over the long term. Following a two-year development phase, projects submit detailed delivery plans that must pass through a rigorous appraisal process before securing 20+ years of public investment.
The assurance process is inherently multi-disciplinary and highly bespoke. No two projects are the same, and the role requires careful judgement across a wide range of economic, ecological, and delivery considerations. It is an iterative process involving detailed engagement with project teams and partners to understand proposals, test assumptions and ensure plans are robust, deliverable and supported by clear evidence.
A key aspect of this process is constructive challenge and negotiation, working closely with projects to refine proposals and resolve areas of uncertainty or disagreement. This ensures that project ambitions are aligned with value for money principles, are deliverable in practice, and represent an appropriate use of public funds.
As Principal Economics Lead, you will act as the senior analytical lead for appraisal, integrating economic, natural science and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) evidence into clear value for money analysis. You will lead a new team in Natural England set up to deliver the economics workstream, providing technical and functional leadership to the team while overseeing the planning and delivery of appraisal activity.
They will be responsible for planning, co-ordinating and delivering assurance of the MEL and LM work programme, functionally and technically leading their team, managing resources, ensuring timely reporting against budgets and deliverables, alongside risk management.
They will build strong working partnerships across the appraisal function, within CSD and the central LR Team, as well as with colleagues in Defra, Environment Agency and Forestry Commission, supporting projects to move from development into implementation in a way that is both economically robust and tailored to deliver lasting environmental outcomes.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
The successful candidate will be required to show flexibility in managing and adapting to other work should team priorities or resources change.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
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.
You’ll 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.
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.
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.
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 & Knowledge
Description
Competence 2
Professional competency
Detail
Personal Effectiveness
Description
Competence 3
Professional competency
Detail
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
Description
Competence 4
Professional competency
Detail
Work Delivery
Description
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 Government’s 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.
Find out more about the work of Natural England at:
Natural England’s Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security - GOV.UK
The Team
The Evidence Directorate is part of the Chief Scientists Directorate, it provides scientific and evidence leadership, services, and support to help Natural England (NE) operate as a science and evidence led organisation. The Team provides access to evidence for others, develops innovative approaches and tools, and manages a wide range of evidence programmes and projects. We lead on the Science, Evidence and Analysis Framework (SEAF) to help facilitate delivery of Natural England’s Strategy (Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security). We work closely with Defra and our Portfolios, alongside National and Area Delivery Teams.
Description
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Alongside your salary of £53,550, Natural England contributes £15,513 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Please Refer To Job Description
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6630-6630-Principal-Economist/en-GB