Senior Environmental Analyst - Nutrients

Do you enjoy working with scientific evidence, experts, universities, and research centres to understand environmental processes, changes and trends? Are you interested in how nutrients from agriculture and wastewater impact on our aquatic and terrestrial habitats and species? Can you summarise that information into clear, accessible reports for Ministers, Parliament and the public? If so, then we want to hear from you.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) mission is to protect and improve the natural environment. Established by the Environment Act 2021, our role is to hold government and public bodies in England and Northern Ireland to account. We do this in several ways including reporting on progress towards environmental commitments, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public, which can lead to investigations and taking enforcement action.

This role is based within the OEP's Insights Directorate which leads on progressing our strategic objective of holding governments to account for delivery of environmental goals and targets, in accordance with Environmental Improvement Plans. With a total staff of just over 90, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, including part time and job share arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.

We are looking for an individual to primarily support our nutrients programme in Northern Ireland and England. Our Nutrient programme currently focuses on wastewater treatment and agriculture in Northern Ireland, but we aim to expand this programme to cover England. So far, we have evaluated wastewater impacts on protected sites, regulations for agricultural pollution, habitat regulation assessments for new developments, and policy divergence among the EU, UK, and Ireland. In the next 12 months, we plan to:

• Monitor and evaluate government progress in reducing nutrient loss.
• Complete an environmental law report on agricultural pollution regulations.
• Assess potential breaches of environmental law related to nutrient management in Northern Ireland.

Key areas we expect the role-holder will support include:

• Translation of science into policy relevant recommendations.
• Engagement, collaboration and management of relationships with experts, stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines.
• Support wider specialist functions such as providing advice to Government and analytical support towards the monitoring of environmental law, reviewing complaints and when undertaking investigations.

This role will provide technical and scientific support across these activities as needed. The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Person specification

• Degree level qualification in a relevant scientific or environmental discipline, or equivalent experience in areas such as agronomy, environmental and water engineering, soil science, pollution of aquatic or terrestrial habitats.
• Experience in the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of evidence from a range of science and policy sources.
• Ability to think and operate at the science-policy interface, using the best available evidence to inform decision-making and recommendations.
• Experience in commissioning and managing external research projects to support science and policy analysis.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex analysis clearly and confidently, verbally and in writing for multiple audiences.
• Experience of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, including coordinating inputs from external technical experts.
• Ability to identify risks to the delivery of key activities, and work with the wider team to manage and resolve them.
• Be a strong team player, with a flexible and adaptable mindset, able to work across a wide range of projects and change direction quickly in response to changing demands.
• Ability to take initiative and be highly proactive in progressing work as well as seeking review and steer on a regular basis.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,220, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £11,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

The OEP offers 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over 5 years for all new entrants. Additional paid leave is available where necessary to cater for a variety of situations including, but not limited to, family-related leave, volunteering days, exam and study leave, public duties and trade union activities. In addition, we offer a generous enhanced maternity leave, parental leave and shared parental leave policy. The OEP is supportive of flexible working and has a flexible working policy to allow for variations in individuals working hours where this is compatible with business need.

Staff Wellbeing

Staff wellbeing is extremely important and the OEP strives to provide access to numerous resources to aid the wellbeing of its employees. Current initiatives include:

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice and guidance to support employees with both personal and employment issues.
• Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.
• Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.
• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.
• Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.
• Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/ lenses if required for VDU use.

Salary Sacrifice, Discounts and SmartTech Benefits

All employees have access to the STaR, Reward Gateway an online platform providing access to hundreds of discounts, offers and cashback options with well-known retailers.

Criminal Record Check

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Name: OEP Recruitment Email: Recruitment team Email: Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 12 June 2025.