The Environmental Services Team (EST) is responsible for providing support and advice to applicants, Inspectors and Examining Authorities across all of the Planning Inspectorate’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and Town and Country Planning appeals casework.
We interface with departmental consenting teams at BEIS, DfT and DLUHC as well as stakeholders such as Natural England, Environment Agency, Historic England and Marine Management Organisation to ensure provision of consistent and up to date advice. We are actively supporting the Government’s Project Speed initiative to streamline NSIP examinations. Joining us, you will gain experience working in some of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects and help to deliver decisions relating to the UKs future energy security.
The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.
We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.
For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached.
Job description
We are looking for?individuals?with?environmental assessment and ideally habitats regulations assessment experience who want to progress their career.?You will be?a team player who is confident?and able to project manage a diverse workload.?You will be?decisive,?analytical and?enjoy?problem?solving.? You will gain unparalleled exposure to a breadth and depth of the country’s most significant casework.
This role provides an exciting opportunity for an experienced environmental professional to join the EST and work collaboratively with colleagues on a wide range of casework. We are looking for individuals who have well-developed communication skills and enjoy working as part of a team, as well as the ability to manage assigned projects and deliver succinct reports to tight timescales.
The role requires you to have proven experience and knowledge of the EIA Regulations including screening and scoping processes and to provide, with support, high quality environmental advice to a range of stakeholders.
You will manage less environmentally complex NSIP projects and will also be required to provide support to senior colleagues in the EST on the most environmentally complex projects. You will benefit from working as part of a multidisciplinary team and gain valuable skills, knowledge and experience of environmental issues associated with different types of planning casework.
For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
All of our office-based roles are contractually located at Temple Quay House in Bristol. Most of our roles are able to work in a hybrid manner and you will be expected to attend Temple Quay House at least 12 days a year. Depending on your role, you may be required to attend more often than 12 days a year either permanently or temporarily to ensure we deliver our services in the most efficient and effective way for our customers. Please do contact us on PINS.Recruitment@PlanningInspectorate.gov.uk if you would like to discuss our Hybrid Working Policy in more detail.
Responsibilities
Essential Criteria
- Graduate in an appropriate environmental or land use discipline (e.g., environmental science, environmental impact assessment, archaeology, ecology, landscape, planning or engineering) or equivalent experience in a related field.
- A high level of awareness of the wide ranging and complex environmental, social, and economic issues associated with infrastructure projects.
- Proven experience and knowledge of the EIA Regulations, including screening and scoping processes.
- Demonstrable verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write succinct reports to tight timescales.
- Wide ranging level of awareness of consent regimes similar to that under the Planning Act 2008 (for example, processing of planning applications and appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act regime).
Desirable Criteria
- Knowledge of the Planning Act 2008
- Experience of preparing/reviewing Environmental Statements and Appropriate Assessments and HRA reports
- Knowledge of databases and processing of spatial data within Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- A high level of awareness of the wide ranging and complex environmental, social, and economic issues associated with infrastructure projects
Benefits
- Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
- There is a choice of excellent pensions schemes. More information about pensions can be found at https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
- 25 days annual leave increasing up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the Queen’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
- Generous family friendly policies.
- Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Microsoft Office 10 and O365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.
For full information see our Benefits information pack.
Things you need to know
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Application
Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:
- A CV: The CV section is an opportunity for you to detail your career history. It should outline the jobs you have done, the length of time you were employed within each role and a brief description of your role, responsibilities and duties which demonstrate relevance to the role you are applying for against the essential criteria. You must type, or ‘copy and paste’ into the text box called ‘Employment History’ within the online application. You cannot attach a copy of your CV.
- A Personal Statement (1000 words max): The personal statement allows you to outline your suitability for the role in more depth, expanding on your CV evidence. It is an opportunity for you to provide evidence against the essential criteria listed within the candidate pack on the Person Specification page and link your answers to the listed Success Profile elements we are also assessing against.
We will assess your application on the evidence you have provided against the Essential Criteria and Success Profile elements detailed in the Person Specification in the candidate pack.
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
- Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
- Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, experience, and technical questions
- Complete a written test
Candidates who are successful at shortlist stage will be sent full assessment requirements with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 26 September 2022
Interview Date: w/c 10 October 2022
Interviews are currently being completed remotely using Microsoft Teams. We would like to reassure candidates that the virtual interview will not be recorded (or retained) within the Planning Inspectorate, other than usual interview protocol and in line with the Civil Service jobs Privacy notice.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
The Planning Inspectorate is committed to finding the right person for the job. We recruit using Success Profiles and consider the criteria you will need to demonstrate to be successful for the role, by doing this we are pushing up performance, diversifying our workforce and creating an inclusive culture.
ID and Documents
If specific qualifications/memberships are essential for the role and you are successful, you will be asked to provide accurate scanned or photographed images of the qualifications/memberships that you listed on your application prior to your start date.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to provide documents that show your Right to Work under Civil Service Nationality Rules and we must check the documents are valid with you present (either in person or over a video call).
Disability Confident Interview scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.
To be considered for an interview under the scheme you must:
- have a disability defined by the Equality Act 2010
- provide evidence in your application that you meet the minimum criteria in the job description
- meet all of the qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential
While we will endeavour to provide you with all the appropriate information, you are the expert on your specific requirements so if you require any adjustments, you should consider the information provided about the assessment process in the candidate pack and then:
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. The earlier and more clearly you tell us what you need and why you need it, the more likely we are to be able to accommodate you in a timely fashion.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Apply and further information
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE VACANCY.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :Katherine King
- Email :PINS.Recruitment@PlanningInspectorate.gov.uk
- Email :PINS.Recruitment@PlanningInspectorate.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you should then contact, Head of HR, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission.
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
