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We’re seeking an enthusiastic individual with knowledge and experience of environment protection to join the Defence Environment Protection Regulator (DEPR), in the Assurance Function. DEPR has responsibility for assurance, regulation and enforcement, as well as coordination of environmental protection reporting, to deliver a coherent and consolidated view on environmental protection compliance across Defence (encompassing the estate, equipment and activities).

The Assurance Function is responsible for delivering independent environmental protection assurance for Defence by implementing focused reviews on environmental themes, topics, processes or risks, and by assuring compliance with DEPR Regulation. Assurance activities recently completed includes reports on hazardous substances and the maintenance of protected sites, with ongoing work on topics including waste management risks (E.g. electronic waste, chemical contaminants). DEPR is a relatively new regulator, becoming established just over a year ago. This means that DEPR is very much at the early stages of establishing processes, exploring what methods and approaches will work best for the future. We’re looking for someone with a flexible approach and questioning mindset to help DEPR develop over the course of the next few years as we mature.

DEPR sits within the Defence Safety Authority (DSA), an independent enabling organisation within the Ministry of Defence. The DSA is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection, operating under a Charter from the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS). The DSA provides independent assurance, directly to the SofS, that the law is complied with and the policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented whilst Defence activities are conducted. This regulation is achieved through proportional and appropriate evidence-based assessment of the activity that supports Defence’s operational imperatives. The DSA hosts Defence regulators across all operating environments, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, the Defence Themed Assurance Branch and a HQ into a single independent organisation led by a 3* military officer.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week and is contractually based at Abbey Wood North (ABW-N), in Bristol. The DSA supports hybrid working on an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of expected attendance in the workplace and working from home to meet business needs and with management approval. Currently the DEPR team use a mix of office and home-based working (attending ABW-Non average 40% of the time), and we endeavour to attend ABW-N for team meetings that have added value when held in person.

This post is advertised for 37 hours per week

The primary function of this post is to deliver assurance reviews and reports on environmental themes, topics, processes, policy or risks to provide information on the status of environmental protection across Defence. The post-holder will need to be comfortable with conducting independent research, report writing and reviewing, interviewing and networking with stakeholders and partners from across Defence. The post-holder will be expected to lead on assurance activity independently, but will closely supported by their adjacent SEO, the Assurance Team Lead (G7), and DEPR Team Lead (G6). This post has no line management responsibility.

The postholder will also be responsible for:

• Working with the Assurance-ATL to develop the DEPR assurance strategy, which will be used to identify future priority areas, to allocate resources, to influence regulations development.
• Collaborating with the DEPR coordination and regulation functions to draft and manage the assurance programme, and to support the development of DEPR regulations;
• Working with others in the Assurance Function to determine assurance metrics to assess Defence EP performance, required for enforcement, reports, and to assess the maturity of management systems of TLBs and enabling organisations;
• Supporting the Assurance Team Lead with assurance function activities, and deputising for the Assurance ATL where required;
• Acting as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for DEPR, addressing requests to support, advising or responding to formal questions, consultations or briefings, providing specialist environmental support to DSA and Defence;
• Providing peer support to other DEPR team members and promote a positive EP culture. This includes contributing to DSA's Environment Community of Interest, via authoring, sourcing content, and communication of environmental materials;
• Maintaining and developing personal competence by identifying and participating in relevant development opportunities and retaining membership(s) of relevant professional bodies
• Being an environmental advocate, through engaging with and supporting MoD networks and the DSA Environment Community of Interest, and through developing and promoting a positive environment protection culture through the role.

To be successful in this role, the candidate will need to demonstrate the following skills, experience and behaviours:

• Strong organisational skills, working at pace to deliver structured reviews and reports to a team schedule in line with the DEPR Assurance Function programme
• Demonstrating effective research and reviewing skills to successfully carry out assurance related activities. Strong comprehension and writing skills are required to support assurance function outputs;
• Confidence to deliver messaging sensitively and with authority, and be comfortable to provide advice and judgements to senior management or decision makers;
• Comfortable making decisions within their area of responsibility, using sound judgement and interpretative ability, referring to seniors on complex issues with wider implications, working both independently and with others, guiding staff on problem solving tasks.
• Networking and working collaboratively with other teams and stakeholders and provide support for DEPR activities and DSA objectives, creatively working to drive environmental benefits for Defence.
• Strategic thinking, having an awareness of how their role and team fit into the wider strategic context (both with defence and within the environment landscape more generally)
• Adaptability and flexibility, to anticipate challenges and deal with emergent risks, by drawing together information from various sources, documenting and sharing findings and demonstrate flexibility to work to changing priorities.
  
  
  

We’re looking for someone who has previous experience working in the environment sector - but this may be from a variety of roles such as regulation, policy, auditing, consulting, academia or management. Experience working in defence or on defence projects is not essential, but the candidate must demonstrate in their personal statement how they have transferable skills they can apply to this role.

Other desirable experience / qualifications:

• Formal qualifications (E.g. Undergraduate degree or HNC) in environment or related subject, for example geography, geology, natural science, environmental science or environmental management.
  

• Strong written and verbal communication (written report writing is a core part of this role), digital literacy (use of Office 365), investigative and analytical skills, briefing and report writing skills; distilling coherent messages from complex qualitative information.
  
  
  
• Experience working in an assurance, auditing, compliance or assessment setting (for example, experience working on environmental impact assessments, compliance assessments or environmental audits). Desirable to have completed Lead Auditor Environment ISO14001.
  
  
  
• Knowledge and understanding of government process (either at a local or national level) in an environmental context. Particularly beneficial to have experience providing authoritative advice and judgements to senior management or decision makers.
  
  
  
• Desirable to be a member of a Chartered environmental institution (E.g. IEMA, CIWEM, CIEEM, IES). Opportunity to acquire or maintain membership of an environmental professional association related to the job role, to be active in continuing professional development.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Health, Safety & Environmental Protection (HS&EP) Competence Framework, SE 3.4 – Conducting Audits and Inspections. Undertakes environment-related audits and inspections in accordance with policy and regulatory requirements.

The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits. Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• 
  Generous Pension Scheme
• Flexi-time scheme
• Alternative working practices such as working from home
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) and the Civil Service at large are strongly dedicated to promoting equal employment opportunity irrespective of your race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, civil status, sex, or gender identity. Applications are welcomed and strongly encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, and we are actively working to establish a diverse workforce across the entire organisation. We are delighted to announce that we are an Equal Opportunities Employer and that we recruit purely based upon the merit of each and every individual applicant. We pride ourselves on our commitment to ensuring that we recruit the very best individuals and obtain a diverse and inclusive viewpoint to our decision making. We can assure you that we search for all types of talent and are striving to make sure that all social groups are successfully represented. We work diligently to eradicate any bias and safeguard every protected status and characteristic as lawfully required under the 2010 Equality Act. Our dedication to promoting diversity is clearly reflected across our organisation and within our vision to foster an inclusive workforce. Defence harnesses the power of difference to deliver capability that safeguards our nation’s security and stability.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Any move to MOD 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 at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Job contact :

Name :
Katie Bishop
Email :
katie.bishop108@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk