Senior Permitting Officer - Regulated Industry - 6988

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Senior Permitting Officer (SPO) to assist with the technical leadership of the Regulated Industry Permitting team.
In conjunction with the existing SPO, you’ll provide specialist technical support to a team of permitting officers using mentoring, coaching and training techniques to help them deliver environmental permits.
You will also be required to develop and share your expertise to improve the team’s technical competence.

You will be required to determine your own complex environmental permit applications, by carrying out technical assessment according to Environment Agency processes and regulatory obligations.

You’ll need to establish and maintain good working relationships within the wider NPS community and other technical teams, to resolve queries and establish best practice. In time, you should aspire to adopting a sector lead role, working with external groups to improve our links with industry.

Currently we are looking for one officer to provide mainly Industrial experience for the Regulated Industry Permitting team in Bristol. However, we may have a similar SPO vacancy in Waste Permitting in Bristol in the future. Therefore we will retain applicants’ details on file for up to 6 months to be considered for that role (should it become available).

You will join an established Regulated Industries (Waste & Installations) Permitting team, where you’ll assist in providing technical leadership, training and direction to 8 permitting staff. You will be the team’s primary lead for the Industrial (Installations) sectors.
You will need to establish and maintain relations with technical specialists, operators and other NPS sector groups. You’ll need to work with these groups to assess and improve the Permitting team’s technical resilience in Industrial sectors.

Essential:
You’ll be expected to have the following:
• Technical knowledge of 2 process industry sectors such as chemicals, combustion, (non) hazardous waste, biowaste, landfill, refineries, (non) ferrous metals, intensive farming, food & drink etc
• Understanding of environmental permitting: providing pre-application advice, assessing applications, regulating & reviewing permits;
• Excellent coaching, mentoring and training skills;
• Experience in environmental management, Best Available Techniques (BAT) and risk assessment, to make risk based decisions in pressurised situations;
• Prompt resolution and communication of complex technical issues;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to provide first-rate customer service;
• An ability to work collaboratively with others;
• A degree (or equivalent) in a science / humanities subject.

Desirable:
The following would also be desirable:
• Knowledge of amenity issues (e.g. noise, odour, dust, fire prevention plans);
• Chartered membership of a relevant institute or Practising Environmental Regulator (or working towards this).

Closing date: 30th November 2017 at 23:55 hours
For further details please contact the Regulated Industry Team Leader: Tom Swift on 02030 254804 or email: tom.swift@environment-agency.gov.uk.
You can also download the candidate information pack for further information.
Please note that this role will primarily be office based, although infrequent travel will be required to attend meetings, site visits or training.
Interviews will be held in January in Bristol.

Provide specific example(s) to demonstrate your experience in using a variety of methods, including direct instruction, coaching and feedback skills to help others to develop.

Provide specific example(s) to demonstrate your experience in 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.

Provide specific example(s) to demonstrate your experience in finding and delivering optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Provide specific example(s) to demonstrate your experience in Assessing applications, issuing and maintaining permits; and ensuring permits comply with changing legislation.

Provide specific example(s) to demonstrate your experience in listening and questioning to understand and engage. Conveying information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.