Head Of Regulatory Programmes

Details

Reference number

347770

Salary

£62,011 - £70,278

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

GBP

Job grade

Grade 6

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

OEP - Regulatory

Type of role

Environment and Sustainability

Operational Delivery

Working pattern

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

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location

• About the job

• Benefits

• Things you need to know

• Apply and further information

Location

Worcester

About the job

Job summary

Are you an experienced senior leader with an environmental background who has extensive experience in managing complex, cross cutting projects enabling an organisation to achieve its strategic objectives?

Do you have experience in leading multi disciplinary teams to deal with reactive and proactive cross cutting matters?

Do you enjoy writing and have experience in preparing high profile, dynamic reports with accuracy and clarity for decision makers?

Do you want to play a significant role in helping the OEP achieve its mission to protect and improve the environment?

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated and professional individual to join our small team working at the heart of the OEP as a Head of Regulatory Programmes in the Regulatory Directorate. The Regulatory Directorate is responsible for delivery of key functions as set out in the Environment Act 2021. These are monitoring, investigating, and enforcing the implementation of environmental law, and advising the government on the development of law and other matters relating to the natural environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading complex, multi disciplinary projects designed to contribute to the OEPs aims of protecting and improving the environment, through the identification and resolution of compliance issues, or by drafting and publishing reports on the implementation and effectiveness of environmental law.

The Office for Environmental Protection (the OEP) mission is to protect and recover the environment. Created by the Environment Act 2021, our role is to hold Government and public bodies to account. The OEP do this in several ways including reporting on progress against environmental targets, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public which can lead to us taking enforcement action.

With a total staff of just over 70, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.

To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, visit the OEP website .

The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra in England and DAERA in Northern Ireland which means it operates independently from Defra. Employees are public servants and as part of the benefits package, employees have the opportunity to enrol in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to work across the Regulatory Directorate to support with the delivery of the OEPs key objectives to contribute to environmental protection and improvement of the natural environment.

The Regulatory Directorate is comprised of three teams the Complaints and Investigations Team, the Monitoring Environmental Law and Advice Team, and the Intelligence team. The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across the organisation to identify and address issues within the OEPs remit.

The OEP take an issues-based approach to identifying the projects we work on and consider all of our functions, such as Insights, monitoring environmental Law, Investigations and Enforcement, when determining what action we should take. The advertised role will be crucial in supporting this approach, through the identification of appropriate topics and management of projects that could result in formal enforcement action where evidence of serious non-compliance has been found, or in laying reports before parliament where we wish to comment on the implementation and effectiveness of environmental laws.

The role holder will;

• Lead on a wide range of projects to address issues relating to compliance with and implementation of environmental law and associated policy. This will include co-ordinating and contributing to reports, correspondence and website content.

• Co-ordinate activity across the OEP to support strategic objectives.

• Lead on stakeholder engagement to ensure outcomes are aligned with expectations.

• Support the Monitoring Environmental Law (MEL), Complaints and Investigations (C&I) and Insights teams within the regulatory directorate to promote compliance with and test the effectiveness of relevant legislation in addition to evidence gathering.

• Identify future project work through engagement across the OEP with Intelligence and insights teams.

• Support with the development and evolution of OEP policy and procedure.

• Line manage staff.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Information Webinars:

We are hosting a webinar during the application period to provide potential candidates with the opportunity to meet the team, to find out more about the role and to ask questions. The webinar will be held on Tuesday 23rd April 2024 at 10am. Please click on link to join: Webinar - 347770 Head of Regulatory Programmes

Person specification

Essential Criteria;

• Degree level qualification in a discipline relevant to environmental science, environmental law or regulation, or equivalent experience.

• The ability to work at a strategic level across an organisation and in conjunction with other teams to identify, lead and co-ordinate projects to ensure that work is prioritised effectively and delivered on time.

• Experience of valuing difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.

• In leading projects, take into account both strategic and corporate plans.

• Experience of leading and building multi disciplinary teams that work to an organisations mission and the ability to provide engaging leadership both within your team, at board level and externally to deliverer a shared vision.

• A proven ability to communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm, ensuring that messages are received in the most appropriate manner. This will include the ability to write high profile, accurate, factual, influential and persuasive reports that influence external stakeholders

• Proven decision-making skills based on evidence, analysis, research and collaboration to work to an outcome that is strategically aligned to the organisations priorities and mission.

• Experience in dealing with and responding to significant stakeholder and media interest and scrutiny.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture

• Leadership

• Communicating and Influencing

• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,011, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £16,742 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Leave and Flexible Working

The OEP offers 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days over 5 years for all new entrants.

Additional paid leave is available where necessary to cater for a variety of situations including, but not limited to, family-related leave, volunteering days, exam and study leave, public duties and trade union activities. In addition, we offer a generous enhanced maternity leave, parental leave and shared parental leave policy.

The OEP is supportive of flexible working and has a flexible working policy to allow for variations in individuals working hours where this is compatible with business need.

Performance Management and In Year Bonus Scheme

The OEP is committed to promoting a high-performing culture for all employees. Performance and development management is key to developing trusting relationships between managers and employees so that they can be their best and thrive at work. Every individual will have a performance management plan which will be reviewed on a regular basis.

The OEP has a quarterly In-year Bonus Scheme where individuals and/ or teams can be recognised for outstanding one-off contributions and achievements.

Learning and Development

The OEP is a learning organisation and strongly supports the continuous professional development of all employees through both personal and work related study. The OEP will pay for one relevant profession membership per employee to support continuous professional development.

Every employee has access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development. This could be through Civil Service Learning mandatory and voluntary learning, corporate inductions, staff events and welcome days as well as relevant professional qualifications and specific courses.

Staff Wellbeing

Staff wellbeing is extremely important and the OEP strives to provide access to numerous resources to aid the wellbeing of its employees. Current initiatives include:

Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice and guidance to support employees with both personal and employment issues. This may include personal wellbeing, career development or legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes.

Access to an Occupational Health Service to provide a range of support service to help with the way you feel at work.

Access to trained Mental Health First Aiders and wider Defra Group mental health first aid network and resources.

Free access to Headspace, a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.

Access to a Financial Wellbeing Portal.

Free eye tests and a contribution to glasses/ lenses if required for VDU use.

Salary Sacrifice, Discounts and SmartTech Benefits

All employees have access to the STaR, Reward Gateway an online platform providing access to hundreds of discounts, offers and cashback options with well-known retailers. They offer a SmartTech scheme, a Cash Healthcare plan and numerous other benefits and services.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process

The OEP uses the Civil Service Success Profile framework which is made up of five elements: Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical. It is strongly recommend you have a look at the Success Profiles to enable you to make the best application possible.

When writing or presenting behaviours, the OEP recommends you use the STAR format to present your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV detailing qualifications and work history; a 750 word statement of suitability on how you meet the person specification outlined in the advert; and one behaviour statement on the Lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application. Review the person specification and essential experience and skills criteria on the job description and outline how you meet it providing specific and relevant examples. These could be from work, volunteering, training or education.

Further details are provided on the application form.

Sift

After the closing date, your application will be reviewed against the essential sift criteria outlined for the role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture.

Once the sift has concluded, applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly after the closing date. Please note that feedback will not be given to applications at sift stage.

Interview and ID Verification

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience and the listed behaviours.

At interview, you may be required to deliver a presentation or complete an additional exercise. If this is required, details will be sent alongside your invite to interview.

Interviews will be held In-person at the Worcester Office. Travel and subsistence costs will not be reimbursed for candidates travelling to interview.

Appointments

All appointments will be made in merit order.

Identification

Candidates will need to bring ID to interview for verification in person. Human Resources will contact you to advise what ID you need to bring.

Following interview, ID will need to be checked for Right to Work and BPSS security clearance. This will be done by secure online platforms via the Government Recruitment Service.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. All appointments will be made in merit order.

Near Miss Appointments

On occasion candidates may attend interview for the advertised post but will narrowly miss the standard required at interview. The OEP may, where appropriate, consider such candidates for alternative, similar posts at a lower grade.

Salary

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

Location and Office Attendance

All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/ or Northern Ireland. This role is based in Worcester only.

All GB employees will be contractually based at the Worcester office. The OEP embraces a blended working model and supports a combination of office and home working which will be dependent on business need and individual circumstances. Our current office attendance approach requires 40% attendance in one of the OEP offices or on official OEP business at offsite meetings with partners and customers. This approach enables thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.

If GB based, travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to the Worcester office.

If the candidate is an internal candidate, they retain the right to their current contractual location unless TUPE restrictions apply. Home working contracts will not be issued for GB based staff.

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 the OEP at recruitment@theoep.org.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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check

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

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please note that the OEP is not a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License Sponsor and is unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the OEP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service