Environment & Business Senior Advisor, Air Quality - 31816

Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We seek diversity, embrace it, and live it for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.

We are looking for a driven, proactive individual to join our National Air Quality Team. In this role, you will lead key streams of ongoing air quality work and a programme of Air Quality Projects; and provide advice and guidance on air quality issues both internally and externally. The work will include but is not limited to:

• Leading the development of Environmental Assessment Levels for key atmospheric pollutants, in support of Net Zero delivery
• Providing strategic input to bridging planning and permitting issues, including input on air quality and amenity issues in development plans; supporting the Environment Agency’s approach to responding to planning application consultations; and shaping our role as Air Quality Partners
• Overseeing and guiding the capture and use of emissions data and evidence to underpin decisions and regulate more effectively, in particular the use of our Pollution Inventory data
• Providing mentoring and development support to junior Air Quality team members
• Contributing to all areas of the Environment Agency Air Quality work
• Responding to internal and external technical queries on air quality issues
• Undertaking site visits to high profile industrial sites to support emission reduction measures
• Supporting Defra as required in the development of new or updated air quality policy, e.g. input to the Gothenburg Protocol

The team

You’ll join our Air Quality team, within Monitoring and Assessment. We provide technical leadership on pollution issues of our regulated industry. We’re a dispersed team, working with a wide range of colleagues across the country.

We’re part of Regulatory Resilience, in the Chief Regulator Group within Environment and Business (E&B), promoting an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued. We use evidence, expertise, engagement, and innovation to enhance delivery, influence policy and legislation, and secure resources.

Experience/Skills Required

In your capability-based answers please demonstrate your:

• Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work

As baseline requirements, you will have a good understanding of:

• UK and international air quality legislation
• Air Quality standards, targets and legislation
• The approach to regulation of industrial installations, and the use of Environmental Assessment Levels in setting permit limits
• The Environment Agency’s role in the planning regime

To deliver this role effectively, you will be able to:

• Work with a wide range of internal and external customers
• Deliver technical information in accessible language
• Prepare, run and respond to technical consultations
• Influence outcomes through effective relationships with colleagues and customers
• Project manage to time and budget

A full range of development and training opportunities will be provided.

Contact and additional information

We’ll support you in finding a role to suit your needs and provide appropriate training. You’ll have an EA Office base location; as a national role, the working location is flexible / hybrid. Some travel and overnights may be required. Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries can be directed to lucia.susani@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are blind assessed using your answers to the competency questions. Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of the closing date. Length of contract: Up to 6 months with possible extension.

Competence 1 — Scientific Knowledge

Description: Applies scientific knowledge of air quality and atmospheric pollutants to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers. Describe your knowledge and experience of air quality, and how you would apply this to the role described.

Competence 2 — Shapes organisational approach & delivery

Description: Informs Government Policy and/or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment. Provide an example of where you introduced a new or improved way of working in your technical or legislative field. What obstacles did you meet, how did you overcome them? How did you influence and convince colleagues?

Competence 3 — Legislative Knowledge

Description: Applies knowledge of statutory environmental and technical requirements to protect both the Environment Agency and the environment. What do you view as the most significant legislation aimed at protecting or improving air quality, and why?

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job sharing. If applying from the Civil Service, note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service. For applicants from local government or other bodies, continuous service rules may apply. We encourage you to state any preferred working arrangements in your application. We also guarantee 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, uses Central Government frameworks and contracts for external recruitment. For information on becoming a supplier, please visit the Crown Commercial Service guidance.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Consulting, Information Technology, and Sales