Biodiversity Net Gain Senior Product Manager

Biodiversity Net Gain Senior Product Manager (Ref: 5624)

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 4th January 2024

Details

Reference number: 329564
Salary: £48,434A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade: Grade 7 Principal Adviser
Contract type: Permanent
Type of role: Digital
Working pattern: Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available: 1
Location: 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

About the job

Job summary

This position is based nationally.

Job description

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and
secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a
team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural
Environment?

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure
environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and
nature. 

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes: 

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive;
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate
  change; 
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods;
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature, and
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social
  prescribing.

We are the Government’s Adviser for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering
the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities
to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england.

Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to development and or/land management that aims to leave
the natural environment in a measurably better state than beforehand. This means protecting
existing habitats and ensuring that lost or degraded environmental features are compensated for
by restoration, or by creating features that are of greater environmental value. 

The Environment Bill will make the Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) approach to development
mandatory in the English planning system. It will require planning applicants to deliver 10%
BNG, as measured by the Biodiversity Metric, on their own development site or at an offsite
location, in order to receive planning permission from the Local Planning Authority (LPA).To
ensure BNG is implemented consistently and transparently, the Bill will require two new digital
services: Biodiversity Gain Site Register – A publicly accessible record of sites delivering
BNG across England, and a Statutory Credits scheme.

You’ll be responsible for a portfolio of digital products built and managed by
multidisciplinary teams. Working across organisation boundaries you will be responsible for new and evolving products and services which meet policy intent, users’ needs and Government
Digital Service Standards to deliver the best outcomes for Natural England. 

Key tasks/tasks/principle accountabilities

The post holder will be expected to undertake a range of the following tasks and
accountabilities: 

• www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
• Own and be responsible for developing and articulating a clear vision, achievable goals and
  measurable objectives, which are aligned to the goals and objectives of Natural England
• Develop and own the product roadmap for your products across Natural England, regularly
  iterating to meet changing needs, whilst maintaining alignment to the programme and
  organisation’s vision
• Own the overall prioritisation of product development, ensuring a balance of support,
  improvement, and infrastructure work so that the products and services remain reliable, robust
  and secure, whilst continually improving
• Lead engagement with stakeholders, users and partner organisations, by running demos,
  blogging, speaking at conferences and facilitating workshops
• Coach and support teams on the adoption of agile delivery, working with the programme
  manager, other product managers, delivery managers, designers, user researchers, and developers
• Champion user needs and develop an expert understanding of user intent to develop and
  enhance product development

The ideal candidate for this role will be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

Agile working

• Able to identify and compare the best processes or delivery methods to use, including
  measuring and evaluating outcomes. Helps the team to decide the best approach. Able to help
  teams to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work and work to agreed minimum viable
  product (MVP), print and scope.

Lifecycle perspective

• Recognises when to move from one stage of a product lifecycle to another (discovery, alpha,
  beta, live). Ensures the team is working towards the appropriate service standards for the
  relevant phase. Able to manage the delivery of products or services at different phases. 

Operational management

• Able to design operational processes for the running and maintenance of products or
  services throughout their lifecycle. Able to redesign operational processes, amend existing
  processes, and plan and operationalise the stages of a new product or service development. Is
  the escalation point for operational issues and can fix complex operational issues. Able to
  overcome operational constraints to deliver a successful product or service.

Problem ownership

• Ensures that the right actions are taken to investigate, resolve and anticipate problems.
  Co-ordinates the team to investigate problems and implement solutions and preventative
  measures.
• Product ownership
• Experienced in applying tools, terms and concepts in a variety of ways. Able to be
  flexible, consider new ways of working and adapt to change.

Benefits

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours
and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and
maintain their health and wellbeing. 

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and
development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone
in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days
to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave
allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a
work-life balance that works for you and us.

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to
work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer
discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what
you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our
thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our
Diversity Action Plan.

Locations

Natural England is adopting 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. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated
office for a minimum of one day a week. 

 

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.

View a map of our office locations here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations