Defence Environmental Protection Regulator, Assurance Lead

Are you passionate about the environment? Do you want to work in a role where you can be an environmental advocate, in one of the largest civil service departments? Are you looking for an opportunity to use and develop your leadership skills? 

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. 

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 and environmental protection 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 post is one of two Assistant Team Leaders (ATLs) in DEPR and is responsible for leading the Assurance Function (three civilian posts). The post holder will line manage two C1s/SEOs, and will report directly to the B1/G6 DEPR-Team Leader.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time are welcome.

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 departmental environmental protection policy and DEPR Regulation. Assurance activities recently completed include 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.

The DEPR Assurance Function will work closely with the Coordination and Regulations Functions to establish and develop the assurance programme. Output from the assurance programme is provided to the Coordination function to support production of annual and periodic reporting. This function is responsible for stakeholder management across the Defence community and will engage in co-working with other DSA Regulators and Investigators where there are shared interests or combined assurance activities. The function is also the Subject Matter Expert (SME) focal point for DEPR, addressing requests to support, advise or respond to formal questions, consultations or briefings. It provides specialist EP support to DSA and wider Defence.

Key responsibilities of this post include:

Leading and developing the DEPR Assurance Function on behalf of DEPR.

Specific activities will include:

• Supervising the delivery of assurance reviews and reports on environmental themes, topics, processes, policy or risks to provide information on the status of EP across Defence. This will include compliance assurance in line with DEPR Regulations once in place
• Leading the development of an overall DEPR Assurance Strategy, and leading on the Assurance Function section of the DSA’s Annual Assurance Report (AAR), and leading on the development the DEPR Assurance Function Programme, including the design and implementation of assurance metrics to assess Defence EP performance
• Collaborating with the DEPR Coordination and Regulations functions to support their deliverables and outputs, and participating in joined up activity across DSA in support of strategic priorities (e.g. contribute to joint audits, represent DEPR on DSA working groups, and support DSA senior leadership on environmental issues).
• Representing DEPR Assurance Function at relevant working groups (for example, the DSA Assurance & Enforcement Working Group).

Supporting the DEPR Assurance Function: leading and motivating the DEPR Assurance Function and collaborating with colleagues across DEPR and being inclusive of the needs of the whole team. Provide support to direct reports on personal development, performance, training pathways and welfare.

Deputising for the DEPR Team Leader as required: may include attending meetings with senior leaders, chairing internal meetings, contributing to the production of deliverables and outputs.

Driving strong, open, and enduring working relationships with stakeholders:  including developing ways of working to routinely communicate, collaborating and sharing information in support of improving environmental compliance across defence.

Providing authoritative advice to others on environmental protection: providing experienced and/or qualified advice, or to review in consultation with others, apply evidence-based opinion and make informed decisions to achieve improvements in environmental protection.

Maintaining and developing personal competence and being an environmental advocate. This includes identifying and participating in relevant development opportunities and retaining membership(s) of relevant professional bodies, alongside 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 environmental protection culture through the role.

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

• Confidence in a leadership position and able to demonstrate positive leadership behaviours. Experience activity and/or line managing others and supporting the delivery of work through others
• Ability to think strategically, having an awareness of how own role and team fit into the wider strategic context (both with defence and within the environment landscape more generally)
• Strong written and verbal communication (written report writing, and reviewing work produced by others 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
• Comfortable making decisions within 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
• 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.

Essential skills, experience & qualifications:

• Experience working in the environment sector – but this may be from a variety of roles such as regulation, policy, auditing, consulting, academia or management.
• Formal qualifications (E.g. Undergraduate degree or HNC) in environment or related subject, for example geography, geology, natural science, environmental science, environmental management or similar equivalent.
• 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 ISO1400, or be willing to achieve in post in first 6 months.
• Experience activity and/or line managing others and supporting the delivery of work through others 

Desirable skills, experience & qualifications:

• Experience working in defence or on defence projects is preferable but not essential. If not, the candidate must demonstrate in their personal statement how they have transferable skills they can apply to this role
• 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
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

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.

• 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

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. 

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

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.

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/.

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 however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. 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.

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Job contact :

• Name : Cindy Levy
• Email : cindy.levy657@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk