Nature Recovery Senior Strategy Officer

This full-time, permanent position has a starting salary of 47,142 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

We are excited to be hiring a new Nature Recovery Senior Strategy Officer to join our fantastic Surrey Nature Recovery team based in Woking. This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working remotely and collaborating with colleagues in the office for a minimum of two days per week.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About The Role

Join us in shaping a thriving, connected and resilient future for Surrey. As part of the Surrey Nature Recovery team, you'll work with partners across the county to bring the ambitions of Surrey's Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) to life. This role offers the chance to help restore and reconnect the county's natural habitats, using spatial and ecological data to identify opportunities, target action, and clearly communicate priorities to a wide range of stakeholders, creating a landscape where wildlife thrives, people feel connected, and nature flourishes.

We are seeking a Nature Recovery Senior Strategy Officer to work directly with wildlife charities, community groups and land managers across the county to facilitate the delivery of nature recovery action. The role will seek to increase awareness, understanding and adoption of the LNRS across a broad range stakeholder groups.

As the Nature Recovery Senior Strategy Officer, you will:

• Ensure the LNRS is embedded in decision-making processes across the council and by key partners
• Support communities, land managers, parish councils and Neighbourhood Area Committees with the development of nature recovery plans and actions
• Contribute to the production of a pipeline of potential and investible nature recovery projects that deliver against the LNRS
• Assist planners, developers and land managers in interpreting the LNRS for the application of Biodiversity Net Gain
• Maintain a strong understanding of environmental policy and nature finance opportunities
• Collate and manage data and mapping on the delivery of nature recovery actions across the county
• Deliver improvements to spatial data needed to inform decision making, including the next iteration of the LNRS

If you're an environmental professional with experience of bringing different groups together, and the skills to transform ecological and spatial data into shared purpose and collective action, we encourage you to apply!

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Strong knowledge of environment legislation and policy
• Proven project management skills, including the ability to plan, coordinate and deliver complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and adapt to changing priorities to ensure successful outcomes
• Strong communication, relationship building, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Experience producing, interpreting and/or using spatial and ecological data to shape strategic direction and drive action
• A collaborative mindset and ability to present to a broad range of audiences and facilitate engagement events

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:

• What do you see as the biggest challenges for implementing and delivering Local Nature Recovery Strategies - both internally and with partners and stakeholders?
• Please describe a time when you used spatial data or ecological evidence to guide action or decision-making. What tools or methods did you use, and what impact did it have?
• Please tell us about a time you worked with multiple stakeholders (e.g. landowners, councils, community groups). How did you manage differing priorities and build consensus?
• Please give an example of when you presented technical or environmental information to a non-technical audience. How did you adapt your communication?

The job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday 19th April 2026 with in-person interviews planned for 28th and 30th April at Victoria Gate in Woking.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.