Senior Executive Officer/Senior Planning Technical Officer – Environmental Assessment - Bristol, United Kingdom - UK Civil Service

Description

Job summary

Environmental Assessment supports planning decisions by providing information about the effects of development on the environment. As part of the wider programme of planning reform, the Government is developing a new system of Environmental Outcomes Reports.

Environmental Outcomes Reports will provide a streamlined, more effective process where relevant plans and projects are assessed against clear environmental outcomes, replacing the current systems of Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment.

We have a vacancy for a Senior Executive Officer or Senior Planning Technical Officer to join the Environmental Assessment team in the Planning Policy Division. The focus of this role will be to support the ongoing programme of policy development that will inform the regulations that will ultimately implement the new system.

Job description

There is an exciting mix of environmental and planning policy, securing process improvements and preparing new legislation on Government priorities as well as working with stakeholders across and beyond Government. The work can be high profile, is often challenging, but also rewarding.

The role will focus on policy development and implementation of Environmental Outcomes Reports in respect of the Town and Country Planning Act and the Planning Act 2008 regimes. You will help manage the delivery of the team�s strategic priorities, including:

� Supporting the wide range of policy workstreams that will inform the delivery of Environmental Outcomes Reports.

� Working across policy and legal to manage the drafting of regulations and guidance to implement the new system of assessment.

� Procuring, gathering and analysing evidence gathered through stakeholder engagement and consultation to support policy development and legislation.

� Collaborating across government and across the devolved administrations to ensure cross- cross-government alignment on key policies.

� Providing advice to policy teams, senior officials and Ministers, and engaging with and assessing technical assessment matters.

� Leading on the preparation briefing material, correspondence or products to support wider Parliamentary activity.

� Making corporate contributions and activities to support a positive team culture.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

� Knowledge and experience of environmental assessment particularly Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) but also strategic environmental assessment (SEA), environmental permitting processes or other environmental consenting or policy initiatives such as biodiversity net gain, environmental monitoring or reporting.

� Excellent communicator (verbal & written), doing so in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, tailoring communication appropriately depending on the audience.

� Able to understand strategic drivers for your work area and align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities, whilst remaining alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.

� Strong decision making and judgement skills.

Benefits