Permitting OfficersPermanent, Full Time, Part Time/Job Share/Term TimeStaff Grade: 4 About Us: Join our dedicated team within the Permitting Service (PS) as we work to determine the necessary environmental permits for activities that have the potential environmental impact such as flooding, drought, sea level rise and coastal change. We are focussed on improving and protecting the quality of our air, land and water by tackling pollution. We work with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations and believe a healthy and diverse environment enhances people’s lives and contributes to sustainable and resilient economic growth. What will you do: As a flood risk activity Permitting Officer, you will play a vital role in protecting the environment and supporting the work of the Environment Agency (EA). You will be responsible for assessing applications for a range of flood risk activities across the country, from minor construction in and around rivers, to nationally significant flood management projects. You’ll conduct regulatory obligations and conduct technical assessments and the permits you deliver will help to ensure the environment and local communities are safeguarded. Passionate about the environment and regulating potentially damaging activities, you’ll share that passion, knowledge and experience in supporting and help to develop a team of Permitting Officers whether that be in the field or working from the office. You’ll be supported by a Senior Permitting Officer and wider network of equally passionate individuals and teams. Why choose us: Impactful Work: By joining the Environment Agency (EA), you become part of a collective effort to protect and improve the environment in England. Our work addresses national-level issues, ranging from industry regulation to flood defences, land contamination, water quality, fisheries, and conservation. As a flood risk activity permitting officer, you will play a crucial role in safeguarding the environment by assessing applications for a wide range of flood risk activities. Your work directly contributes to creating a more sustainable and safer environment by supporting growth and enabling people to go about their business. Team Environment: The EA's diverse scope of work necessitates a multi-skilled workforce. Working with us means being part of a team that promotes sustainable growth, tackles climate change, and secures a better future for everyone. As a permitting officer, you will collaborate with professionals from various disciplines and engage with permit applicants, ranging from multinational companies to individual householders. This collaboration and interaction allows for a rich and diverse working environment, fostering personal and professional growth. Varied and Impactful Responsibilities: As a flood risk activity permitting officer, you will experience highly varied and challenging work that is essential to protection of people, wildlife and the natural environment. You will assess applications for environmental permits, ensuring compliance with EA processes and regulatory obligations. You will manage a caseload of permit applications for a range of flood risk activities and make informed decisions that directly impact flood risk and environmental management. This role offers continuous learning opportunities and the chance to deepen your expertise in environmental permitting. Creating a Safer Environment: The work of permitting officers at the EA plays a key role in creating a more sustainable and safer environment. By assessing applications for environmental permits, you actively contribute to the protection of local communities and natural resources. Additionally, you will develop relationships with a wide range of partners and support vital functions, such as flooding and environmental response. This holistic approach ensures that our work extends beyond permitting, enabling comprehensive environmental management. Incident Response: Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment, and full training will be given, alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role. there are a range of incident roles available to support varied working patterns and in line with our flexible working policy. What do you need: You will work with a team of Permitting Officers based in Sheffield, Bristol and Warrington who currently work flexibly between the office and home. You will need to be comfortable working within both a physical and virtual team environment, be flexible and able to travel to work with your team in person in either Sheffield Bristol and Warrington for training and meetings. You will possess excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with customers. This will involve balancing the needs of the customer and the environment. Essential Experience with coaching and mentoring. Exhibit proficiency in IT skills with tools such as Word, Excel, and job-specific digital platforms. Experience working with data/information management, including data analysis of complex technical data and tailor it to different audiences. GCSE English Grade A-C or equivalent. Experience working effectively with customers. Desirable: An understanding of regulatory activities undertaken by the Environment Agency Experience of environmental permitting regulations An understanding of flood risk management data Whilst prior experience in environment permitting is not essential, an understanding of the regulatory activities undertaken by the Environment Agency and an understanding of flood risk management data with some experience or interest in the environment and regulation is preferred. What we value most is a passion for the environment and a strong desire to protect it by regulating harmful activities. What’s in it for you? You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and includes everyone, where you’ll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and shape your career. What’s more, you’ll have access to our great benefits package including: A competitive salary of £33,000 pro rata. 25 days holiday 8 bank holidays Company pension scheme Great career opportunities Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme A range of flexible working options, plus many more All locations offer hybrid working with a minimum of 20% office-based working, full training will be given. These training sessions will be conducted in your base location. As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, to achieve this we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion. We also welcome applications for part-time hours. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply and start your application today Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the UK's biggest environmental organisation. Join us, and together, let's tackle the challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable future. Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency. Please be advised this role does not currently meet the eligibility criteria for Visa sponsorship. Closing date for applications Monday 24th March 2025. Interviews will be taking place week commencing 7th April 2025.