Environment Agency
Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Manager - 35003
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) Manager - 35003
Director-level COMAH Competent Authority Lead – The Environment Agency
The Environment Agency are fully committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We actively promote diversity, embedding it into our culture, practices, and policies—ensuring it delivers benefits for our staff, communities, and the environment.
About the Role
Reporting to the Deputy Director for Energy and Manufacturing Industries, we are seeking a strategic, technical leader to guide our Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Team through significant change and renewal.
You will:
- Lead the Environment Agency’s COMAH Competent Authority relationship to ensure operational independence and effective regulation, delivering strong environmental outcomes for major hazard sites in England.
- Collaborate externally with site operators, trade associations, and government departments, shaping policy and providing expert advice at senior levels.
- Drive improvement in the COMAH regime through digital transformation, training, guidance, and new ways of working—ensuring critical industry stakeholders rely on our expertise.
- Develop and motivate a high-performing team, cultivating a culture of excellence and embedding system-wide change.
- Act as a trusted voice between the Agency, industry, and policymakers to protect the environment from major accident risks.
This is a national, dispersed role with opportunities for hybrid office/home working, though travel may be required for meetings.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Engagement & Relationship Management – Lead the COMAH Competent Authority partnership, building confidence in the Agency’s operational autonomy and regulatory credibility.
- Policy & Stakeholder Advocacy – Influence government departments on COMAH policy and represent the Agency’s expertise at industry forums.
- Regime Modernisation – Oversee the transformation of IT systems, training, and operational processes to align with modern regulatory best practice.
- Team Leadership – Empower and develop COMAH teams (including advisors, analysts, and support officers) to deliver consistent, high-quality regulation.
- Cross-Department Coordination – Work closely with operational teams to ensure tight alignment and enhance frontline competency.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Requirements & Qualifications
Essential Skills & Experience
✔ Leadership – A track record of leading teams in a fast-paced, regulated environment, with the ability to inspire performance and adapt to change. ✔ Regulatory Expertise – Deep knowledge of the COMAH Directive (UKSEVOC/SEVESO) regime and environmental risk management, acquired through regulatory experience OR high-level industrial engagement. ✔ Influencing & Networking – Proven ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders (internal and external) and champion decisions that gain broad buy-in. ✔ Technical Authority – Capacity to provide credible, evidence-based direction on complex environmental and industrial hazards to mixed audiences. ✔ Communication – Exceptional written and verbal skills for policy advocacy, guidance production, and medium-to-senior management engagement.
Preferred Characteristics
🔹 Experience in digital transformation or regulatory process improvement. 🔹 Familiarity with environmental impact assessment, incident management, or enforcement policies. 🔹 Knowledge of organisational niceties (e.g., Quality Assurance, Performance Review Systems). 🔹 Willingness to apply flexible working or relocate temporarily for critical meetings.
Benefits
- Meaningful Work – Tangible impact on environmental safety and public policy.
- Flexible Arrangements – Home/hybrid working options available; job share may be considered on request.
- Career Growth – Investment in professional development, mentorship, and leadership advancement.
- Benefits Package – Competitive pension scheme, enhanced leave entitlements, and access to generous benefits (see attachments for full details).
Header Topics (Competency-Based Questions)
The TA12 competency framework will guide much of the selection process. Below are key themes addressed:
1. Leads People
How have you developed a high-performing team to enhance organisational outcomes?
- Provide an example from your experience of mentoring staff in challenging contexts, resulting in observable improvements.
2. Influences & Persuades Others
How have you successfully introduced and embedded organisational change when others were hesitant?
- Narrate a scenario where you articulated a compelling case, achieved multi-level buy-in, and implemented a large-scale shift in working practices.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
3. Delivers Results Through Others
Share a collaboration-focused success story where you mobilised internal and external partners to achieve a specific goal.
- Highlight methods used to align teams, set clear objectives, and sustain delivery excellence.
4. Takes Decisions & Solves Problems
Describe a complex problem you resolved with proactive, innovative solutions, rooted in strong evidence.
- Explain how your approach delivered a sustainable long-term fix rather than a temporary straitjacket.
About the Team
This role sits within the Energy & Manufacturing Industries management subset of the Environment & Business Directorate. You’ll work ambitiously within a multi-functional group, delivering regulation for Control of Major Accident Hazards sites alongside a team comprising:
- Senior advisors
- Environmental data analysts
- Policy formulators
- Stakeholder engagement specialists
As a national role, you are unlikely to be assigned to any single Environment Agency office permanently, but travel will occasionally be necessary for key engagements.
Diversity & Accessibility
We’re committed to equitable employment and will adapt your application/interview process if needed. Please declare any accessibility requirements with your submission.
Eligible candidates will receive Guaranteed Interview consideration under our disability-friendly hiring policy.
Civil Service Note
The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service. Appointment does not confer Crown Servant status. Further redundancy pay continuity details are available on request.
For further guidance, contact chris.jenkins@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Ready to Apply?
Submit by the posted closing date. Interviews will be virtual via Microsoft Teams within two weeks.
Early-stage decisions rely partially on first-round competence sifting; feedback is rarely provided before interviews. applicationsphilosophically align with Natural Foster’s employment standards.
Applicants evaluated blindly via your admissions, so emphasise cultural and technical fit over gimmicks. Attach your answers to Core questions separated into clearly labelled slides/files.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills