Environment & Business Senior Advisor, Air Quality - 31816

At the Environment Agency, we are committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We seek diversity and inclusion to benefit staff, communities, and the environment.

We are looking for a driven, proactive individual to join our National Air Quality Team. You will lead key streams of ongoing air quality work and a programme of Air Quality Projects, and provide advice on air quality issues both internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• 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 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 developing 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 capability-based answers 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.

Baseline requirements (understanding):

• 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

You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given. 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, contact lucia.susani@environment-agency.gov.uk. Applications are blind assessed using 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: Applies scientific knowledge of air quality and atmospheric pollutants to provide evidence to internal and external customers.

Competence 2 – Shapes organisational approach & delivery: Informs policy and translates it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment. Provide examples of introducing new or improved ways of working, obstacles faced, and how you influenced colleagues.

Competence 3 – Legislative Knowledge: Applies statutory environmental and technical requirements to protect the Environment Agency and the environment. What are the most significant pieces of legislation for air quality, and why?

Note: If applying from Civil Service, Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of appointment. See candidate pack for details on status and continuity of employment. We welcome flexible working patterns and offer a Guaranteed Interview Policy for applicants with disabilities. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment.