Job Description

We are the Environment Agency. We create better places for people, wildlife and the environment. We improve and protect the quality of our air, land and water by tackling pollution. We work with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations and believe a healthy and diverse environment enhances people\'s lives and contributes to sustainable and resilient economic growth.

We are looking for a Senior Advisor to provide technical leadership on wider amenity issues at Environment Agency permitted sites.

A successful candidate will work to support advisors in the National Odour Team, front line Area staff and our National Permitting Service with the regulation of waste management and industrial sites across the country. You will be joining a busy team who respond to amenity queries from Area officers about novel technologies, support our regulation at high profile sites, resolve regulatory challenges, deliver training, review management plans, developing technical guidance, carry out detailed site audits, champion the use of existing guidance, support sector groups and provide leadership across the organisation.

Despite the name, the National Odour Team deals with a wide range of amenity issues such as particulates, pests and odour pollution. These are the most reported type of pollution incidents that the Environment Agency receives calls about. We already have work underway to reduce these reports by improving our regulation, developing our staff, our permitting and our incident response.

The post will include travel across the country with occasional overnight stays and some very occasional evening meetings to support engagement with community groups near to Environment Agency permitted sites. A UK driving licence or acceptable equivalent, will be required.

Our team promotes an inclusive culture, and we hope to receive applications from all backgrounds. The team works flexibly between home and Environment Agency offices.

The team

The team sits in our Environment and Business function as part of Radioactive Substances and Installation Regulation Directorate.

You will be required to have an incident role & make yourself available to respond to incidents. This may attract an additional payment and full training will be available to support you with your incident role.

Experience/skills required

The team is technically very strong, and we are seeking a candidate that brings in additional technical skills around amenity issues, as well as regulatory experience.

The team uses a wide range of skills including data analysis, auditing, writing guidance, training and problem solving. The successful candidate must be able to work alongside the current team leader and provide technical leadership.

Regulatory skills, in additional to technical skills will be a significant advantage as they will support our audits of permitted sites experiencing amenity issues and add value to our feedback. Your communication and influencing skills should be first class and being able to explain complex technical issues, simply and effectively will be critical.

You will need to be able to learn quickly, assess reports and technical proposals, and develop your knowledge in subject areas where you may not be an expert.

Contact and additional information

If you have any questions or want to find out more about the role then please get in touch with Chris Lowe (Email chris.lowe@environment-agency.gov.uk)

CVs/documents attached to your application, will not be assessed for selection.

Please note: We run a capability-based recruitment. Your answers to the capabilities / questions will be used for interview selection. Please draw out your skills and experience in your answers, including both what you have done, and how you have gone about it.

You can access the Environment Agency capability dictionary at: https://tinyurl.com/4mfc8xuj or by searching on Google.

Job description attachment 1

Candidate pack

Closing Date:

15/08/2023, 23:55 hours

Level of security checks required

Basic Check

Length of contract

Up to 01/07/2025

Competence 1

Scientific Knowledge

Description

Description - Applies scientific knowledge to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.
Q: Please describe the knowledge, skills and experience you have that are relevant to the role, and outline something technical you have delivered.

Competence 2

Securing Compliance

Description

Description - Secures compliance of individuals and organisations with permits and legislation.

Q: Can you describe a situation where you worked with a team to resolve an (amenity) issue at a (permitted) industrial site?
Q: What personal and regulatory skills did you use to resolve the issue?

Competence 3

Communicates Effectively

Description

Description - Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Give an example of when you have used data and information to support your communications.

Q: What were you communicating and who was your audience?
Q: How did you decide what to include or omit?
Q: What feedback did you receive from the audience/recipients?
Q: What did you learn from this?

Competence 4

Influences and Persuades Others

Description

Description - Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Describe a time when you have successfully influenced senior stakeholders to deliver to agreed deadlines, in the face of considerable challenge.

Q: What was the situation?
Q: How did you influence/gain buy-in to deliver?
Q: What was the outcome?
Q: What did you learn from this experience?

Role specific license requirements

UK Drivers Licence

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information.

Environment Agency