Senior Environmental & Sustainability Advisor

Do you enjoy working with scientific evidence, experts, universities, and research centres to understand environmental processes, changes and trends? 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.

The scope of our work is broad and the OEP's priority areas over the next three years are improving nature on land and at sea, clean water and effective governance; as well as developing our work on the circular economy and waste, chemical regulation, and soil health. Alongside analysing and commissioning scientific evidence on the natural environment, understanding policy is a key aspect of assessing how government is addressing its commitments and meeting its targets. Through our Environmental Improvement Plan monitoring and reporting, we analyse and comment on governments' progress. We make recommendations on how progress could be improved across environmental goals, targets and plans. We also provide commentary and advice on the adequacy of environmental monitoring.

The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly and contribute to analysis across a range of themes or subjects:

• Development of analysis across the range of policy areas in Environmental Improvement Plans, in order to provide an independent assessment of progress.
• Development of annual progress reports and methodological statements including authorship and review and quality assurance processes.
• Analysis and commissioning of evidence relating to science and policy to develop a robust basis for our scrutiny and reporting functions.
• Translation of science into policy relevant recommendations.
• 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.

Person specification:

• Degree level qualification in a relevant scientific or environmental discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 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.
• 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.
• Cross-cutting assessments considering environmental, governance and policy domains, across varying geographic and time scales.
• Evaluation and social research methods in an environmental governance and policy context.
• Synthesis of policy relevant science particularly in the areas of nature conservation, biosecurity, agri-environment, chemical regulation, waste and circular economy.

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 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.
• The OEP is committed to promoting a high-performing culture for all employees. Performance and development management is key to developing trusting relationships between managers and employees so that they can be their best and thrive at work.
• Every individual will have a performance management plan which will be reviewed on a regular basis.
• The OEP has a quarterly In-year Bonus Scheme where individuals and/or teams can be recognised for outstanding one-off contributions and achievements.
• The OEP is a learning organisation and strongly supports the continuous professional development of all employees through both personal and work-related study.
• The OEP will pay for one relevant profession membership per employee to support continuous professional development.
• Every employee has access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development.
• 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.
• Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.
• Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/lenses if required for VDU use.
• 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.
• They offer a SmartTech scheme, a Cash Healthcare plan and numerous other benefits and services.

Location and Office Attendance: All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/or Northern Ireland.

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.