Senior Natural Scientist

We are seeking Higher Scientific Officers, with excellent technical ability, project management skills, and ability to communicate science, to support with delivering high quality evidence to support the development of the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in England. The post holders will join a team of natural scientists responsible for supporting both strategic policy development and delivery through the provision of robust scientific evidence and analysis.

As part of these roles, the post holders will work closely with natural scientists, social scientists, data scientists, modellers and economists within the Environmental Land Management team as well as experts across the Defra family. The post holders will be responsible for identifying and addressing priority evidence needs, leading analytical projects, and providing rapid, high-quality analysis to support policy development and delivery.

Person specification The following responsibilities apply to the role: Identify policy needs through liaising with policy and analyst colleagues. Procure and manage science contracts to answer important policy questions, ensuring projects deliver robust and impactful findings and achieve value for money. Promote and disseminate research/evidence and analysis to policy colleagues, reflecting confidence in the interpretation.

Provide evidence-based responses and recommendations within area of expertise within short time frames. Carry out rapid analysis to respond to reactive policy requests. Maintain up to date knowledge within area of expertise, explore and promote innovative research approaches. Work closely with multi-disciplinary colleagues, including policy, natural science, social research, economic, and data science colleagues on Environmental Land Management scheme development.

Ensure relevant legal, ethical, procurement, and quality assurance practice followed, and ensure quality of results and methodological rigour. Essential criteria: Hold an Undergraduate degree in a relevant scientific discipline or have equivalent workplace experience. Scientific knowledge in land use and land management, agriculture, or the natural environment. Have experience of developing and leading projects with a focus on evidence collation or analysis to inform decision making for the development of policy.

Ability to manage a complex portfolio of work and manage your work flexibly to adapt as priorities change, often at short notice. Experience disseminating complex research findings to diverse and non-specialist audiences, using effective interpersonal, verbal, and written skills. Experience of partnership working, negotiating, and attention to detail to balance conflicting priorities or needs. Behaviours We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Working Together Technical skills We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Communicating complex, technical ideas clearly to stakeholders from different backgrounds – presenting analysis and interpretation Benefits Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 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). Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 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). Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A  Civil Service pension  with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, al