Environment Agency
PFAS Planning Specialist (Senior Advisor, E&B, Agriculture & Land) - 34445
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Job Description
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.
England faces two major challenges: a declining natural environment and the need for renewed economic growth. The Environment Agency is uniquely positioned to support the government’s growth mission while protecting and enhancing our environment.
Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called ‘forever chemicals’, represent one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time. There is growing evidence that their widespread use and past management have generated risks of harm to people and to the environment, including wildlife. This is an important issue for the government to address.
We have a great opportunity for a PFAS Planning Specialist who is confident in communicating with and influencing various stakeholders and has a good working knowledge of land contamination risk management, PFAS contamination and remediation as well as the spatial and land use planning system in England.
You will be responsible for delivering actions in the Governments PFAS plan including:
- Embedding the Environment Agency’s PFAS multicriteria Geographic Information System (GIS) prioritisation mapping internally and with other public sector organisations
- Developing technical guidance for regulators and industry on managing legacy PFAS contamination across the spatial and land use planning system to ensure a consistent and practical approach
- Providing strategic technical PFAS support to operational teams on Local Plans, New Towns, New homes accelerator and stalled sites, Enterprise zones, Critical growth sites and pre-application discussions on complex PFAS contaminated sites.
In your capability-based answers please demonstrate your experience of the sector and in particular, challenges around addressing PFAS.
The team
You’ll join our Land and Contamination Management Team as part of the Agriculture & Land section within the Environment & Business Directorate.
We’re a dispersed team, very welcoming and will provide plenty of support. You will be working closely with colleagues in Planning & Place, National Groundwater team and Chemicals Regulatory team as well as the virtual PFAS Working Group and operational teams across the Environment Agency.
Experience/skills Required
We are looking for someone who:
- Holds an honours degree (or equivalent), in a science or engineering discipline.
- Is Chartered or working towards professional chartered status with a relevant professional institution.
- Understands spatial and land use planning, environmental regulation and the interface between these regimes to help enable growth.
- Is a talented, dynamic and resilient team player, with strong organisational and communication skills and an ability to lead external and internal engagement.
- Has a genuine interest in solving problems and finding new ways of working. Being energised by working at pace and in bringing the right people together to manage a difficult situation.
- Has experience in partnership development, stakeholder management, and building internal and external relationships at a project or programme scale at pace.
- Has experience of leading/supporting complex programmes, projects, or operational improvements in a regulatory, operational, or development environment.
- Can communicate complex information appropriately across all business levels.
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Contact and additional information
You’ll have an incident objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location but, as a national role the working location is flexible/hybrid.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, however some overnight stays may be required. Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact angela.haslam@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams with 2 weeks of the closing date.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Competence 1
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Please tell us about a time when you have had to influence people with diverse perspectives to agree a pragmatic solution which enabled delivery of an operational outcome. What was challenging and what did you learn?
If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview. Feedback is generally not available at sift stage.
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
Competence 2
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Description
Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.
Question: Please tell us about a time when you have delivered a tangible improvement to customer service? How did you measure improvement?
Competence 3
Achieves Results
Description
Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
Question: Please tell us about a time when you have managed competing priorities and delivered a piece of work or a project on time in the face of challenging circumstances. How did you lead in that situation?
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Role specific professional membership requirements
Chartered status or working towards chartered status with a relevant professional institution for example a Chartered Town Planner, Chartered Geologist or Chartered Scientist.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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