RC83015 - Senior Environmental Inspector

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) exists to tackle challenges to our environment, our economy and the future security of our energy supplies.
The Offshore Oil and Gas Environment Unit is responsible for developing the environmental regulatory framework for the UKCS, and for administering and ensuring compliance with the regulatory regime relating to offshore oil and gas exploration and production.
The Offshore Environmental Inspectorate is primarily responsible for regulating activities once offshore operations commence by inspecting and investigating whether the requirements, restrictions or prohibitions imposed by the legislation have been, or are being complied with.
We are looking for a talented and suitably qualified professional to join us as a Senior Environmental Inspector in Aberdeen preferably with offshore oil and gas experience in, but not limited to, one of the follow areas;
Drilling; Production; Maintenance; Subsea.

Within DECC, the Energy Development Unit (EDU) seeks to maximise the economic recovery of oil and gas taking full account of environmental and social objectives. Within EDU the Offshore Oil and Gas Environment Unit is responsible for developing, administering and ensuring compliance with the environmental regulatory regime for the UKCS, in relation to offshore oil and gas exploration and production, gas unloading and storage, and carbon storage. The regime consists of primary and secondary domestic legislation. The Offshore Environmental Inspectorate works to protect the environment through implementation of the United Kingdom’s offshore environmental regulations. To ensure continued high standards of environmental performance and protection we are looking for a suitably experienced and qualified person to join the Inspectorate Team. The team brings together individuals with varied but specific work experiences and skills in order that all environmental aspects associated with offshore oil and gas activities are competently monitored. The post requires excellent organisational and management skills.

As part of a dynamic team your role will be diverse and involve all aspects associated with the regulation of environmental legislation and pollution prevention within the offshore oil and gas industry. Your key responsibilities will include:

1. Prioritising, developing, implementing and managing, with two other Senior Environmental Inspectors, an Offshore Environmental Inspectorate (OEI) team to ensure delivery of objectives and targets which contribute to the overall achievement of the DECC secure energy initiative.
2. Actively managing resources to deliver OEI core and priority activities as defined in the work plan and EDU business plan using a risk based approached coupled with a prioritisation programme.
3. Assessing, defining, implementing and overseeing a prioritised inspection and investigation programme including the review of Environmental Inspector's findings to ensure consistency, proportionality and transparency.
4. Mentoring and line managing a team of specialist Environmental Inspectors.
5. Assessing competency of, and through discussion with Inspectors, promoting and deciding on relevant aspects of their training.
5. Responding to environmental incidents or regulatory non-compliance events linked to DECC's objective on secure energy supply, including maintaining and participating in an effective 24/7 response capability and providing advice and support to the on call Environmental Inspector
6. Liaising, negotiating and participating with the various industry work groups, such as the Oil and Gas UK Oil Spill Response Forum, to improve guidance, ensure learning and identified improvements are implemented into DECC and industry operational and response procedures.
7. Providing advice and direction, in liaison with the Senior Investigations Officer, on investigations, and where necessary leading such investigations, into contraventions of environmental legislation and deciding on the appropriate enforcement action. Initiating DECC/HSE joint inspections and investigations in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding.
8. Reviewing the regulatory process of regulatory permit approval and issue, to ensure competent assessment, approval and compliance within the regulations.
9. Providing expert advice for responses on oil and gas environmental issues to government, industry bodies and the general public.

You will be required to actively develop and maintain effective liaison with assigned industry representatives, other Government departments and agencies as well as other non-governmental organisations on environmental issues.

Professional Competence (Apply Technical Knowledge)

Essential or desirable: Essential

Details: Make quality assessments and review technical content. Assist in the development of the longer term and strategic issues related to projects. Identify and assess risk and respond to unforeseen situations. Guide and advise others on the appropriate technical standards and methods for specific projects.

Professional Competence (Communicating with Impact)

Essential or desirable: Essential

Details: Communicate objective impartial advice, clearly and concisely to specialists and non-specialists. Present effectively to a critical audience. Ability to assimilate a wide range of detailed technical information and have the skills to, if appropriate, challenge the information provided on the basis of sound science and robust evidence, holding a hard line when required. Produce technical and other reports for internal use and for external organisations.

Professional Competence (Statutory Requirements)

Essential or desirable: Desirable

Details: Understand and apply the details of the statutory, and non-statutory where applicable, requirements relevant to the role. Ability to explain to others, both within and out of the department, what needs to be done to fulfil these requirements and thereafter monitor their compliance. Comment on the content and limitations of existing or proposed regulations. Define, promote and challenge standards, codes of practice and assurances processes.

Further information and how to apply:

• For further information on this post, please contact Michael Reid on 01224 254035 or email michael.reid@decc.gsi.gov.uk
• Apply on the DECC Application Form attached to this advertisement.
• Send an electronic copy of the completed form and relevant documentation to ssd.applications@defra.gsi.gov.uk quoting ref number IRC83015.