Project Support Officer – Sustainable Development (Natural England)

Natural England is the Government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment, acting as the “Nature Regulator.” We work to ensure that nature thrives alongside human progress. This nationally based role is a rare opportunity to drive systemic change within the UK planning system, ensuring that major infrastructure and policy reforms shift toward large-scale nature recovery. If you are an organized professional with a passion for the environment and a background in project management, this is your chance to help deliver security, health, and growth through nature.

About the Role

As a Project Support Officer within the Sustainable Development team, you will be instrumental in delivering high-priority legislative reforms and infrastructure projects, such as the Nature Restoration Fund and the Lead Environmental Regulator pilot. You won’t just be tracking tasks; you will be helping to shape a digitally enabled, customer-focused planning system that prioritizes environmental sustainability. Working closely with Project Managers, you will apply formal methodologies to ensure that complex environmental projects remain on scope, on budget, and on time. Your work directly supports Natural England’s four strategic outcomes: Recovering Nature, Building Better Places, Improving Health and Wellbeing, and Delivering Security through Nature.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Monitoring: Assist in preparing and controlling business cases and project plans to ensure scope, cost, and timeframes are baselined and met.
Risk & Issue Management: Identify, evaluate, and manage project risks, understanding when to escalate issues through the appropriate governance routes.
Financial Control: Monitor project spend in line with Treasury standards to ensure delivery remains within the agreed budget.
Benefit Realization: Track and measure project benefits, ensuring they are understood and owned throughout the project lifecycle.
Stakeholder Engagement: Identify and manage key stakeholders across government and the private sector to ensure collaborative delivery.
Knowledge Management: Maintain records, facilitate audits, and capture “lessons learned” to support continuous improvement and project closure reports.

Requirements & Skills

Appropriate qualifications in project management (e.g., PRINCE2, APM). (Essential)
Experience of working in a project environment involving managing milestones, assumptions, dependencies, risks and budgets. (Essential)
Demonstratable organisational skills, with experience of prioritising and working under pressure and at pace. (Essential)
Excellent interpersonal, influencing and relationship-building skills. (Essential)
Experienced user of Microsoft Office suite in particular; Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. (Essential)
Good analytical skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across teams to identify opportunities for securing better outcomes. (Essential)
Good communications skills, be able to advocate for the work you are delivering, negotiating and influencing when required. (Essential)
Proven self-motivation and resilience. (Essential)
Project Management tool experience, e.g. Microsoft Project. (Essential)
An understanding of the Defra 25 Year Environment Plan. (Essential)

Benefits of Joining Natural England

Generous Leave: 33 days of annual leave (pro rata).
Work-Life Balance: Flexible, part-time, and full-time working arrangements supported.
Learning & Development: 10 days annually dedicated to personal learning, plus 3 days for volunteering.
Pension: Access to the highly competitive Civil Service pension scheme.
Impact: A chance to influence national policy and the future of the English landscape.

To apply for this job please visit restless.co.uk.