33211 - Biodiversity Net Gain Technical Specialist
| Posting date: | 09 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £43,198 per year, pro rata |
| Additional salary information: | Fixed term up to 1 year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 March 2026 |
| Location: | Beverley |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 33211 |
Summary
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology Team on up to a 12 month assignment as a Technical Specialist leading on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for the Yorkshire area.
You will work throughout the area supporting our Flood and Coastal Risk Management capital programme by:
working with the programme team, project managers, and others to ensure BNG is embedded within the programme and planned for at the earliest stages of each project.
identifying efficiencies for projects to work in clusters to deliver meaningful BNG at a landscape scale.
building links between the FCRM programme and the Environment Programme to identify synergies and nature-based solutions that will maximise BNG.
In the role you will become a technical expert on BNG, how it is assessed and measured, and will coach and support others within Yorkshire on technical aspects of BNG, in particular the RiverMoRPh and the rivers section of the Defra Metric.
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of ecology and nature conservation practices based on experience working in the environmental sector.
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. This may attract an additional payment, and full training will be available.
The team
You’ll be joining the Yorkshire Biodiversity Team, a friendly, multi-disciplinary team that promotes the conservation of water and wetland wildlife, and improvements to the environment for people. We are a welcoming and close knit team, and the team is part of the wider Fisheries, Geomorphology and Biodiversity Department (FBG).
We give advice across the business and to our external customers and partners on ecology and geomorphological processes to protect and enhance the water environment.
Experience/skills required
You will be qualified to at least degree standard in a relevant discipline, have considerable experience of nature conservation work and of applying that expertise to deliver projects and to influence decision-makers, customers, and partners. We prefer you to have a professional qualification or membership with a relevant professional body.
You will have:
a good understanding of BNG assessment and the Defra Metric, especially the riverine aspects.
a thorough understanding of the ecology of riverine, aquatic and wetland habitats and species and nature conservation management, including river and floodplain restoration.
good working knowledge of environmental and nature conservation legislation, Government policy, and strategy.
leadership, mentoring, and coaching skills.
good planning and organisational skills, with a record of delivering high quality work on time and within budget.
advanced project management, problem solving, negotiation and influencing skills.
excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience of data and information management.
You will work throughout the area supporting our Flood and Coastal Risk Management capital programme by:
working with the programme team, project managers, and others to ensure BNG is embedded within the programme and planned for at the earliest stages of each project.
identifying efficiencies for projects to work in clusters to deliver meaningful BNG at a landscape scale.
building links between the FCRM programme and the Environment Programme to identify synergies and nature-based solutions that will maximise BNG.
In the role you will become a technical expert on BNG, how it is assessed and measured, and will coach and support others within Yorkshire on technical aspects of BNG, in particular the RiverMoRPh and the rivers section of the Defra Metric.
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of ecology and nature conservation practices based on experience working in the environmental sector.
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. This may attract an additional payment, and full training will be available.
The team
You’ll be joining the Yorkshire Biodiversity Team, a friendly, multi-disciplinary team that promotes the conservation of water and wetland wildlife, and improvements to the environment for people. We are a welcoming and close knit team, and the team is part of the wider Fisheries, Geomorphology and Biodiversity Department (FBG).
We give advice across the business and to our external customers and partners on ecology and geomorphological processes to protect and enhance the water environment.
Experience/skills required
You will be qualified to at least degree standard in a relevant discipline, have considerable experience of nature conservation work and of applying that expertise to deliver projects and to influence decision-makers, customers, and partners. We prefer you to have a professional qualification or membership with a relevant professional body.
You will have:
a good understanding of BNG assessment and the Defra Metric, especially the riverine aspects.
a thorough understanding of the ecology of riverine, aquatic and wetland habitats and species and nature conservation management, including river and floodplain restoration.
good working knowledge of environmental and nature conservation legislation, Government policy, and strategy.
leadership, mentoring, and coaching skills.
good planning and organisational skills, with a record of delivering high quality work on time and within budget.
advanced project management, problem solving, negotiation and influencing skills.
excellent written and verbal communication skills and experience of data and information management.