Atmospheric Specialist

Location

AB1 Building Crimon Place Aberdeen

Salary

£67,825 - £75,100

The listed salary scale is inclusive of a Specialist Environmental allowance of £34,600 pa. The base salary without this allowance is £33,225 - £40,500, see further details below.

Summary

The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is part of the BEIS Energy Development and Resiliance Directorate.

Within OPRED, the Offshore Environment Unit (OEU) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the environmental policy and regulatory framework for offshore oil and gas on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). Within OEU, the Environmental Management Team is responsible for the environmental assessment and approval of offshore oil and gas activities, covering the entire life-cycle of offshore oil and gas operations. The Offshore Environmental Inspectorate works to protect the environment through implementation of the United Kingdom’s offshore environmental regulations via a robust offshore inspection programme.

This position straddles both teams, responsible for developing atmospheric policy as well as supporting offshore inspections. This is an exciting role, contributing to the shaping of the atmospheric policy in the basin and supporting the transition to Net Zero.

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for developing and reviewing the environmental regime for offshore oil and gas activities (including offshore gas unloading and storage and offshore carbon dioxide storage).

The postholder will lead on the development and implementation of policy, procedures and guidance relating to atmospheric issues.

In particular, the post holder will work across the department to shape the OPRED response to the challenge of Net Zero.

The postholder will be responsible for providing advice to Operators on the implementation of legislative and procedural matters and will be responsible for the development of any new permitting, monitoring, verification and reporting systems as required

The postholder will support inspections of these regimes as they are implemented.

Responsibilities

The postholder will be an expert in the reduction of atmospheric emissions, have extensive knowledge of both existing and future schemes for the reduction of emission and be able to demonstrate extensive experience in offshore industry including oil and gas.

The successful candidate will have a relevant degree in a science, engineering, environmental or related subject and:

1. be able to demonstrate extensive experience in a relevant environmental or technical area such as combustion plant operations, production operations, maintenance management, or other atmospheric specialism

2. have a proven track record of project delivery in relation to emissions reduction.

It is mandatory that applicants pass the UK offshore medical and survival training requirements as the role will involve travel to offshore intallations.

It is desirable but not essential that applicants have qualifications covering or experience of combustion plant design, operation and maintenance or related atmospheric pollution, or the design, operation and maintenance of alternative technologies.

Technical Skills

You will be assessed on the following Technical Skills at Sift and Interview

1) Apply Specialist / Technical Knowledge

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, with established specialist skills, respond to both unforeseen and actual situations. Guide and advise others on the appropriate specialist and technical standards and methods for specific investigations or projects.

2) Statutory Requirements

Understand and apply the statutory, and non-statutory where applicable, requirements relevant to the role. Ability to explain to others, both within and outwith 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.

Qualifications

Degree in a science, engineering, environmental or related subject

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Apply Specialist / Technical Knowledge
• Statutory Requirements

Benefits

BEIS offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Salary Details

The listed salary scale is inclusive of a Specialist Environmental allowance of £34,600 pa. The base salary without this allowance is £33,225 - £40,500 (Please note that this is not the standard BEIS SEO salary range as this post is part of the Environmental Jobs Family which has its own approved pay scales).

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV.

Candidates will be sifted on CV and behavioural statements and any technical skills required.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour (Making Effective Decisions). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift Dates: w/c 26/10/2020
Interview dates: w/c 16/11/2020
Interview location: MS Teams

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

The interview will consist of behaviour and technical questions.

A written exercise will be required of candidates at interview – Details will be provided to candidates when invited to interview

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via beisrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

• 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. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You will however have access to the governments Tax Free Childcare scheme.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

BEIS does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Please note that BEIS does not hold a licence to sponsor visa applications.

Complaints

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance BEISRecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

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.

Salary

£67,825 - £75,100

The listed salary scale is inclusive of a Specialist Environmental allowance of £34,600 pa. The base salary without this allowance is £33,225 - £40,500, see further details below.

Grade

Senior Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Other, Energy and Security, Energy, Development and Resilience

Type of role

Engineering

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of posts

1