Environment Protection Officer in Thurso

We are recruiting a full time, permanent Environment Protection Officer based in Thurso. 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.

When you join us as Environment Protection Officer, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful – for our environment, and for your career.

As an Environment Protection Officer, you will make a key contribution to the delivery of front-line regulatory activities for SEPA, primarily in Thurso but also occasionally within the wider team area encompassing Orkney, Shetland and Dingwall, and infrequently in other parts of Scotland. You will undertake site compliance work across a wide range of regulated sectors including marine fish farm sector, distilling, infrastructure, and waste management facilities.

You will handle responses to a wide range of pollution complaints and environmental event reports spread across the regimes which SEPA regulates and will need to use your judgement, with support from colleagues when needed, to determine the most appropriate course of action in each case. You will play your part in providing SEPA’s national out of hours service to handle environmental events.

Guided by SEPA’s enforcement policy you will undertake compliance related enforcement action where needed, using your skills and judgement to determine the level of enforcement required, from advice and guidance to notices, monetary penalties, enforcement undertakings and reports to the Procurator Fiscal service.

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

• Relevant experience or qualification equivalent to a minimum HND / SCQF Level 8-10
• Technical knowledge/experience of enforcement and/or environmental regulation
• Ability to provide advice and guide others on the resolution of issues and proven problem-solving capability
• Ability to understand and interpret policy and give detailed guidance, advice or information to others
• Ability to develop effective relationships with operators and individuals
• Full valid UK Drivers Licence

We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. 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. So you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.

We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. 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, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.

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 one Disclosure Scotland check. If you have questions or need any assistance with the recruitment process please contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team.