About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact the UK and beyond? If yes then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are securing the UK’s long term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly its impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are Bold, we are Collaborative, we are Inclusive and we Learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive. 

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

As the Environmental Manager you will have the opportunity to influence energy infrastructure planning decisions across a range of sectors including offshore wind, large solar farms, energy from waste plants and carbon capture use and storage. We want you to use and develop your environmental knowledge, skills and experience to inform decisions for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

The post is part of the operational delivery management team and will have a key role in ensuring we meet our objectives by helping Ministers to make timely decisions on planning applications. This role involves assessing technical environmental information and providing advice to Ministers and senior officials on the environmental risks associated with consenting such projects.

Working as part of the Environment Delivery team, you will provide a critical and sometimes contentious function without which no new energy infrastructure can proceed, putting the role at the heart of meeting energy security, price stability and Net Zero carbon objectives.

Person specification

What will the successful candidate be doing?

• We are looking to recruit an Environmental Manager with experience of UK environmental legislation, such as Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats Regulation Assessments, to join the Environmental Delivery team in DESNZ.
  
• You will use your experience and skills to provide comprehensive, evidence based environmental advice on decisions for nationally significant infrastructure projects, which are subject to tight statutory deadlines.
  
• You will advise Ministers and senior officials of the environmental impacts of offshore and onshore energy development applications and will provide specialist input into policy decisions affecting the future of the UK energy infrastructure planning regime.
  
• This is a lively and fast paced post requiring professional expertise, strong influencing skills and an ability to deliver robust advice, whilst handling competing priorities.
  
• The Environmental Manager will report to the Head of Environment Delivery. You will work as a collaborative and supportive team member to deliver DESNZ requirements whilst providing mutual support to other team members to manage workloads, discuss issues, share knowledge and experience etc.
  

Who are we looking for?

• Assessing complex, technical and often conflicting environmental information to advise on the nature and level of environmental risk associated with consenting energy infrastructure applications.
  
• Writing Habitat Regulations Assessments for nationally significant energy infrastructure projects.
  
• Providing advice to tight statutory time scales on the environmental impacts of all types of nationally significant energy infrastructure projects and fulfilling statutory obligations under the Habitats Regulations.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• A relevant environmental sciences undergraduate degree.
  
• Relevant experience of writing, reviewing or responding to Habitats Regulations Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments.
  
• Be able to interpret complex environmental information and lead environmental assessments.
  

Desirable:

• A background or interest in a technical environmental specialism such as landscape & visual assessment, land quality, water, noise, air quality, human health etc.
  
• Membership to a relevant professional body.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to describe your experience of Habitats Regulations Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Assessment and how your experience is relevant to this role.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on on the CV.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 11/03/24

Interview dates: w/c 25/03/24

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.