Senior Offshore Environmental Inspector

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.

Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.

We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

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Job description

The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is responsible for developing, administering and ensuring compliance with the environmental regulatory regime for the UKCS, in relation to offshore oil and gas exploration, production, decommissioning, gas unloading and storage, and carbon storage.

The Offshore Environmental Inspectorate (OEI) is a team within OPRED which works to protect the environment through implementation of the United Kingdom’s offshore environmental regulations. To ensure continued high standards of environmental performance and protection we are looking for a suitably experienced and qualified person to join the Inspectorate Team. The team brings together individuals with varied but specific work experiences and skills in order that all environmental aspects associated with offshore oil and gas activities are competently monitored.

Within the OPRED Regional Delivery Programmes (RDP) the OEI are responsible for developing, administering, and ensuring compliance with the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime in relation to offshore oil and gas.

Person specification

• Providing strong leadership to a team of Offshore Environmental Inspectors within an assigned RDP, including direct line management of specialist Inspectors. As the OEI Regional Lead for a designated region, the post holder will be responsible for the line management of Offshore Environmental Inspectors, delivery of agreed operational and policy priorities, and leadership of regional governance, including chairing team meetings and reporting operational performance, risks and issues through the RDP governance structure.
  
• Prioritising, developing, implementing work plans to ensure delivery of objectives and targets which contribute to the overall achievement of the DESNZ’s four priority outcomes (Climate Security, Energy Security, Economic Security, Consumer Security) and OPRED’s Strategic Goals.
  
• Actively managing resources to deliver OEI core and priority activities as defined in the OEI Business Plan using a risk-based approach coupled with a prioritisation programme.
  
• Act as Topic Manager for assigned Focal Point areas, providing oversight of related work, supporting resource and project management, undertaking peer review of outputs, and escalating policy papers and recommendations for approval or decision.
  
• Assessing, defining, implementing and overseeing a prioritised inspection and investigation programme including the review of Environmental Inspector's findings to ensure consistency, proportionality and transparency. Carrying out offshore inspections and investigations as required.
  
• Assessing and planning OPRED / HSE joint inspections as part of the OMAR Competent Authority and in line with the existing Memorandum of Understanding.
  
• Responding to environmental incidents or regulatory non-compliance events linked to DESNZ's priority outcome on Energy Security including maintaining and participating in an effective 24/7 response capability and providing advice and support to the on call Environmental Inspector.
  
• Liaising, negotiating and participating with various industry work groups, such as the Offshore Energy UK’s Oil Spill Response Forum, Environmental Forum and Emergency Preparedness Offshore Liaison Group to improve guidance, ensure learning and identified improvements are implemented into DESNZ and industry operational and response procedures.
  
• In liaison with the Senior Investigations Officer, providing advice and direction on investigations, and where necessary, leading such investigations into contraventions of environmental legislation and deciding on the appropriate enforcement action.
  
• Reviewing the regulatory processes for review, assessment, inspection and/or approval of submissions to OEI and to ensure competent assessment, approval and compliance within the regulations.
  
• Developing or approving new or amended policy, regulation, guidance or procedures.
  
• Providing expert advice for responses on oil and gas environmental issues to government, industry bodies and the general public.
  
• Actively develop and maintain effective liaison with assigned industry representatives, other Government departments and agencies as well as other non-governmental organisations on environmental issues.
  
• Deputising for the Grade 7 Technical Leads in their absence.

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.

Essential criteria

The successful candidate will have a tertiary-level qualification in a science, engineering or environmental subject relevant to oil and gas operations and:

1. be able to demonstrate significant oil and gas experience in a relevant technical role such as combustion plant operations, production operations, drilling operations, well engineering, maintenance management, subsea; or
   
2. have a proven track record of inspection, regulation or enforcement in the oil & gas or a related industry.

Successful applicants must hold or pass the Offshore Medical and Offshore Training Survival Courses.

Desirable criteria

In addition, it is desirable that the successful candidate has previous management or leadership experience, in a relevant technical, regulatory or enforcement environment

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing