Principal Permitting Officer - Installations - 33154

You will develop and maintain good working relationships with internal colleagues in the Chemicals sector in addition to external customers and partners. You’ll represent the Agency externally where appropriate and with consideration of the Agency’s goals and reputation.    You’ll support your team leader by sharing responsibility for the technical ability of the team. As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. We welcome applications for part-time hours. Job Description If you’re part of the Environment Agency (EA), you’re part of the solution. Together, we’ll promote sustainable growth, tackle climate change, and secure a better future for everyone We’re looking for enthusiastic and highly motivated individuals to join our Installations Manufacturing team in Permitting. During your time with us you’ll help create a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment.   As a Principal Permitting Officer in Installations Manufacturing you will have a technical leadership role, with no line management responsibility.  This role is a technical lead for the Chemicals sector. This is a varied role, which draws upon a diverse range of transferable skills. Working closely with others, you can expect to be involved in any of the following: 

• Determining your own caseload of complex environmental permit applications. This will mostly be Chemicals but may include other sectors we are responsible for, with appropriate support.
• Providing specialist Chemicals technical support to develop and maintain Chemicals permitting resilience across the organisation.
• Coaching and mentoring permitting officers at all grades and levels of experience is a key part of this role.
• Leading on projects such as permit review programmes or supporting the implementation of new legislation.
• Maintaining a high level of technical understanding in existing and new technologies and using this to increase the technical ability of Permitting officers.

You will develop and maintain good working relationships with internal colleagues in the Chemicals sector in addition to external customers and partners. You’ll represent the Agency externally where appropriate and with consideration of the Agency’s goals and reputation.    You’ll support your team leader by sharing responsibility for the technical ability of the team. As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. We welcome applications for part-time hours. The team Permitting is crucial to the economy, people and wildlife. The Manufacturing team comprises multiple sectors, including Metals, Refineries, Cement, and others as well as Chemicals. We work together across multiple locations in two supportive teams. We have 5 Principal Permitting Officers and together with the team leaders you will be part of our Manufacturing leadership team. You’ll also be a member of the wider Installations PPO Group working with peers to deliver Installations permitting.  Experience/skills Required The successful candidate is expected to be able to demonstrate significant scientific and technical knowledge of Chemicals sector production and ideally have experience of Chemicals sector permitting (whether applying for or determining a permit application or regulating a permit). A chemistry and/or chemical engineering background is highly desirable. We’re looking for candidates with a genuine passion for the environment who are keen to protect it by regulating damaging activities. Please read our candidate pack for details on How to Apply. Base location can be flexible (any of the Permitting Hubs – listed in City/Town) but with an expectation of occasional co-location and travel to meetings at offices/venues across the country. Our hybrid working model combines home and office working; however, you will be expected to attend the office for at least 20% of your time. Contact and additional information Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response when the need arises. Having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information can be found within your candidate pack. Please contact the vacancy managers below if you would like to discuss the role in more detail. Stacey Tapsell and Sandra Cavill Email: NPS.Installation.Recruitment@environment-agency.gov.uk If, at any stage, you have questions or problems with the recruitment system, please contact the recruitment team on 0845 241 5350 or email ea_recruitment@gov.sscl.com All assessments and interviews will be carried out in-person in Birmingham. Interviews are scheduled to take place w/c 4 May 2026. Competence 1 Scientific Knowledge Description Please give an example of how you have applied scientific knowledge to provide sound evidence to customers. How did this example contribute to your professional development in the chemicals sector? Competence 2 Takes Decisions and Solves Problems Description Please tell us about a time where you used your scientific or legislative knowledge, and environmental awareness, to make a risk-based decision that achieved an appropriate balance between growth and environmental protection. Competence 3 Coaches Others Description Please tell us about an experience you have of using your technical knowledge to coach others. What methods did you use to help them develop? Competence 4 Influences and Persuades Others Description Describe a work situation where you succeeded in influencing others to change their position or approach to your way of thinking. How did you secure this outcome? If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team. We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.