Senior Environment Protection Officer in Motherwell

We are recruiting for a full time Senior Environment Protection Officer in the Environmental Crime Team on a permanent basis. Location preference for Angus Smith Building, Eurocentral Holytown; other locations would be considered with the expectation of regular attendance at ASB.

Your passion has never had a greater purpose. Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take – to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.

The post holder will provide a supervisory role in SEPA’s Enforcement Function, which deals with enforcement work across the Agency and leads on investigating Scotland’s more serious environmental crime including that involving organised criminal networks. The Environmental Crime Team has a challenging workload supporting enforcement work across the majority of SEPA’s regulatory remit. The successful candidate will have a supervisory role for a geographically dispersed team.

The post holder will require to be able to build excellent internal working relationships across SEPA and engage firmly and effectively with externals when required. They will routinely interact with individuals, companies and networks that do not meet their environmental obligations. As well as being able to provide a supervisory role, we are looking to recruit someone with the ability to lead and provide guidance on carrying out complex investigations.

The successful candidate will ideally have a proven record in carrying out all aspects of investigations, including case management, gathering evidence, obtaining statements from witnesses and suspects, and submitting reports to COPFS. As a Senior Environment Protection Officer in the team, they will be expected to be directly involved in investigations as well as providing advice on the investigations.

This is a highly important role within our portfolio, which means you’ll need:

• Relevant technical experience/knowledge as an investigator or qualification equivalent to SCQF Level 8–10
• Demonstrated experience in a supervisory role
• Understanding of relevant legislation, including EASR 2018 and S108 EA1995
• Proven experience of carrying out complex criminal investigations and reporting them to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills and the ability to build and maintain good regulatory relationships (internal & external partners)

Support that goes beyond the workplace. We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. You’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home, such as:

• Hybrid and flexible working opportunities
• Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
• Paid time off to support your wellbeing and enable you to volunteer in your community
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Progressive family friendly policies
• Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best

Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.

SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does – as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer. Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise – and your wellbeing.

We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. Please ensure that you include all relevant information when you apply. We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and home life. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, and working remotely.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you in the role that you do. Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.

For the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre‑employment checks including a level two Disclosure Scotland check.