Environmental Protection Officer in Salisbury

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what’s next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you. For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance.

Are you passionate about driving environmental sustainability and compliance across complex and high‑profile operations? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you. As an Environmental Protection Officer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring environmental compliance and sustainability across the organisation in a team of 8 colleagues dispersed at key locations across the UK.

You will act as the subject matter expert in the Trials, Evaluation Services and Targets (TEST) Delivery Team, providing independent advice and guidance to the MOD Head of Establishment and key stakeholders including the MOD Competent Authority, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), regulatory bodies and industry partners. You will guide assurance of environmental and sustainability policy across the T&E Estate and ensure compliance delivery of the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) contractor.

Working closely with the TEST team, DIO, and industry partners, you’ll deliver technical advice and assurance by conducting site and desk‑based audits, offering expert advice, and ensuring adherence to our sustainability policies and relevant legislation. You’ll also play a key role in screening trials, programmes, and estate projects to ensure adherence to agreed MOD processes and operating procedures.

With the opportunity to travel to LTPA locations across the UK, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the estate’s complexity while driving improvements and supporting best practices. We champion flexible ways of working. Appropriate levels of in‑person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 50% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face‑to‑face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work‑life balance.

This role has a permanent duty station at either MOD Boscombe Down or Abbey Wood, Bristol. If you’re ready to lead the way in environmental protection and sustainability, apply now and make a difference in defence.

What you’ll be doing:

• Be the point of contact (POC) for Environmental Submissions for activities trials and capital works activities on the estate.
• Support the assurance, development and maintenance of policy and SEMS, leading on specific aspects of policy management and maintenance.
• Lead key senior stakeholders, colleagues and customers towards environmentally sustainable solutions that support business strategy.
• Act as escalation point for environmental protection advice and guidance across the business.
• Manage elements of embedding EP legislation and regulations across DE&S the contractor operated T&E estate.
• Oversee the maintenance and development of appropriate KPIs, dashboard reporting and risk registers.
• Manage corporate communications on Environmental Protection with the LTPA contractor.
• Lead investigations, audits and assurance reviews within their SME area, identifying key learning points to drive continuous improvement.
• Identify environmental risks and opportunities for environmental improvements in operations, construction and project delivery.
• Undertake environmental audits to identify legal compliance and adherence to contract deliverables.

Person specification:

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Relevant Environmental Protection audit experience across a similar role.
• A relevant environmental degree (such as Environmental Science, Environmental Management or Sustainability) or equivalent combination of skills and applicable experience.
• Membership of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) or other relevant professional body.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: Audit & Assurance (OHSEP) – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Incident Reporting and Investigation – Practitioner

Offered benefits:

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday.
• Market‑leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%.
• Annual performance‑based bonus and recognition awards.
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications.
• Support for progression.
• Huge range of discounts.
• Volunteering days.
• Enhanced parental leave schemes.

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow.

Here you’ll find a supportive, family‑friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.