Senior Environmental Analyst

Reference number: 404285

Salary: £41,220 - £45,400

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Location: Northern Ireland, West Midlands (England)

Do you enjoy working with scientific evidence, experts, universities, and research centres to understand environmental processes, changes and trends? 

Can you summarise that information into clear, accessible reports for Ministers, Parliament and the public? 

If so, then we want to hear from you. 

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) mission is to protect and improve the natural environment. Established by the Environment Act 2021, our role is to hold government and public bodies in England and Northern Ireland to account. We do this in several ways including reporting on progress towards environmental commitments, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public, which can lead to us investigations and taking enforcement action.

This role is based within the OEP’s Insights Directorate which leads on progressing our strategic objective of holding governments to account for delivery of environmental goals and targets, in accordance with Environmental Improvement Plans.

With a total staff of just over 90, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, including part time and job share arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.

To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, visit the OEP website

The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra in England and DAERA in Northern Ireland which means it operates independently from Defra. Our employees are public servants and as part of the benefits package, employees have the opportunity to enrol in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

The scope of our work is broad and the OEP’s priority areas over the next three years are improving nature on land and at sea, clean water and effective governance; as well as developing our work on the circular economy and waste, chemical regulation, and soil health. Alongside analysing and commissioning scientific evidence on the natural environment, understanding policy is a key aspect of assessing how government is addressing its commitments and meeting its targets.

Through our Environmental Improvement Plan monitoring and reporting, we analyse and comment on government’s progress. We make recommendations on how progress could be improved across environmental goals, targets and plans. We also provide commentary and advice on the adequacy of environmental monitoring.

In addition to reporting on Government’s progress, Insights Directorate supports other OEP Directorates to deliver their specialist functions.

The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly and contribute to analysis across a range of themes or subjects. Insights is a small team and there is ample opportunity to take on responsibility in a range of work areas.

 

• Development of analysis across the range of policy areas in Environmental Improvement Plans, in order to provide an independent assessment of progress.

• Development of annual progress reports and methodological statements including authorship and review and quality assurance processes.

• Analysis and commissioning of evidence relating to science and policy to develop a robust basis for our scrutiny and reporting functions.

• Translation of science into policy relevant recommendations.

• Engagement, collaboration and management of relationships with experts, stakeholders from a wide range of disciplines. In particular supporting the management of the OEPs college of experts, connecting expertise of members to the OEP’s remit.

• Support wider specialist functions such as providing advice to Government and analytical support towards the monitoring of environmental law, reviewing complaints and when undertaking investigations.

• Degree level qualification in a relevant scientific or environmental discipline, or equivalent experience.

• Experience in the collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of evidence from a range of science and policy sources.

• Ability to think and operate at the science-policy interface, using the best available evidence to inform decision-making and recommendations.

• Experience in commissioning and managing external research projects to support science and policy analysis.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex analysis clearly and confidently, verbally and in writing for multiple audiences. In particular developing concise non-technical summaries.

• Experience of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders, including coordinating inputs from external technical experts.

• Ability to identify risks to the delivery of key activities, and work with the wider team to manage and resolve them.

• Be a strong team player, with a flexible and adaptable mindset, able to work across a wide range of projects and change direction quickly in response to changing demands.

• Ability to take initiative and be highly proactive in progressing work as well as seeking review and steer on a regular basis.

In addition to the above, experience in the following areas is desirable though not essential.

• Cross-cutting assessments considering environmental, governance and policy domains, across varying geographic and time scales.

• Evaluation and social research methods in an environmental governance and policy context.

• Synthesis of policy relevant science particularly in the areas of nature conservation, biosecurity, agri-environment, chemical regulation, waste and circular economy.

Alongside your salary of £41,220, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £11,941 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The OEP offers 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over 5 years for all new entrants.

Additional paid leave is available where necessary to cater for a variety of situations including, but not limited to, family-related leave, volunteering days, exam and study leave, public duties and trade union activities. In addition, we offer a generous enhanced maternity leave, parental leave and shared parental leave policy.

The OEP is supportive of flexible working and has a flexible working policy to allow for variations in individuals working hours where this is compatible with business need.

The OEP is committed to promoting a high-performing culture for all employees.  Performance and development management is key to developing trusting relationships between managers and employees so that they can be their best and thrive at work. Every individual will have a performance management plan which will be reviewed on a regular basis.

The OEP has a quarterly ‘In-year Bonus Scheme’ where individuals and/or teams can be recognised for outstanding one-off contributions and achievements.

The OEP is a learning organisation and strongly supports the continuous professional development of all employees through both personal and work-related study. The OEP will pay for one relevant profession membership per employee to support continuous professional development.

Every employee has access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development. This could be through Civil Service Learning mandatory and voluntary learning, corporate inductions, staff events and welcome days as well as relevant professional qualifications and specific courses.

Staff wellbeing is extremely important and the OEP strives to provide access to numerous resources to aid the wellbeing of its employees.

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice and guidance to support employees with both personal and employment issues. This may include personal wellbeing, career development or legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes.

• Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.

• Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.

• Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.

• Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.

• Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/ lenses if required for VDU use.

All employees have access to the STaR, Reward Gateway an online platform providing access to hundreds of discounts, offers and cashback options with well-known retailers. They offer a SmartTech scheme, a Cash Healthcare plan and numerous other benefits and services.

All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/or Northern Ireland.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Access NI 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.

Name: OEP Recruitment

Email: recruitment@theoep.org.uk

Email: recruitment@theoep.org.uk