North – Catterick DL9 3LR;
Central - Whittington, Lichfield WS14 9PY;
South – Westdown Camp, Tilshead SP3 4RS.

Join the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and have a future that matters: Be proud; Be challenged; Be unique

The Challenge

This is an exciting time for DIO and Technical Services as the Sustainability and Environment teams expand to respond to the challenges of Net Zero Carbon, embedding Climate Resilience, and delivering Social Value through our procurements. Sustainability and Environment carries a high profile in the organisation, and we have a key role in delivering the new MOD Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy and the revised Greening Government targets.

Working as a Principal Ecology and Natural Capital Manager within the Environmental Support and Compliance business area (ES&C), the post holder and their team will be at the forefront of sustainability, natural capital and biodiversity driving delivery and innovation across the estate. This new role will be challenging and comes with a diverse portfolio of tasks as MOD baselines its natural capital and sets out its road map to net zero carbon and climate resilience. This is an exciting time to be working for DIO.

The MOD Estate includes MOD Barracks, Airfields, Naval Bases and a vast training estate that extend from the deep marine environment, through dune systems and across the UK to the mountainous forests and moorlands of Scotland and Northern Ireland. This post offers an exciting and unique opportunity to manage a developing team supporting development and management of this varied and heavily designated estate with an emphasis on natural capital accounting, ecological management and sustainable development across circa 1% of the UK landmass.

Job Description

The Ecology and Natural Capital Team provides specialist expertise to assist DIO and wider Defence Top Level Budget holders (such as the Royal Navy, Army & Royal Air Force) to create and maintain a sustainable, resource-efficient and resilient Defence Estate in line with Government policy, both in the UK and overseas. To achieve this, the team works closely with estate managers, project teams, the wider MOD, other government departments, overseas authorities, commercial partners, industry and a diverse range of external stakeholders. 

The Ecology and Natural Capital Team consists of four sub-teams: 

• Three regional ecology sub-teams which provide specialist ecological advice on designated sites, protected species, wider biodiversity and ecosystem services. Tasks include: the development and promulgation of policy, guidance and processes; undertaking or overseeing Ecological Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment of proposed changes to Defence Infrastructure or activities; directing, coordinating and assuring habitat management and restoration planning and delivery, focusing on designated sites including managing the MoD SSSI Programme and natural environment components of Integrated Rural Management Plans; and identifying, planning and assuring delivery of projects funded via the MOD’s Conservation Stewardship Fund.

• A new Natural Capital sub-team that is responsible for providing technical advice in the development of natural capital and ecosystem services policy, guidance, processes and tools including raising awareness within and outside the MOD; working with MOD staff and external partners in developing natural capital asset registers and accounts for the rural Defence estate, including a greenhouse gas budget; and supporting development and delivery of woodland creation and natural capital improvement projects across the estate.

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management of the Ecology and Natural Capital Team

• Accountable for delivery of agreed outputs.
• Accountable for ensuing team is appropriately staffed with the right skills to deliver.

Develop, Maintain and Promulgate Sustainability Policy

• Responsible for resourcing formal requests to support relevant policy development.

Assurance and Performance Reporting

• Provide independent assurance and report performance that sustainability legislation and policies are being fully complied with.

Stakeholder Management and Communications

• Develop and oversee relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external to MOD, to ensure DIO influences and anticipates future ecology and natural capital requirements.

Technical Authority in Ecology and Natural Capital

• MOD Technical Authority for ecology and natural capital policy, guidance and processes including as a Competent Authority under the Habitats Regulations.
• Represent DIO Technical Services on the MOD’s Integrated Rural Management Plan Board

We also have a YouTube Video for a unique insight into DIO: https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9tLu3UdiGY?rel=0 

We enable our people to work at the right place, with the right people, at the right time.

We believe that if we look after our people they will be passionate about delivering great things for our customers.

We understand the importance of life outside of work and our industry leading flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

Some of the many benefits you will receive:

• Highly competitive Pension Scheme
• Flexi-time scheme
• Alternative working practices such as working from home
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The Queen’s birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and / or site shops

Learning & Development

• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by DIO
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by DIO

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information regarding this vacancy please contact:

Name: Paul Wilson
Telephone: Mob: (+44)(0)7584 556912
Email: [email protected]

For full role details, please click here to redirect to Civil Service Jobs which is the Only Official Way to apply for the role.

Closing date: 24 January 2021.