Member of the College of Experts
Job summary
Are you looking for an opportunity for your expertise to have impact, to contribute to environmental protection, or to switch things up with a new and interesting challenge?
Do you have the skills, experience and knowledge that are needed to improve protection of the natural environment?
If so, then we want to hear from you.
Created by the Environment Act 2021, the OEP’s 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.
These roles are based in the OEP’s College of Experts and will provide the OEP with access to a broad range of specialists with a high level of relevant academic and/or practical experience. We want you, as volunteers and specialists in your field, to share your experience, diversity of thought and to challenge us in our work and to augment and amplify our recommendations and insight.
All College of Expert Members will act in an individual capacity and will not be representing their employers or any wider organisation, research area or sector. No member of the College will make decisions regarding the strategic direction of the organisation nor the advice the OEP chooses to give. Nor would members of the college by employees or representatives of the OEP.
To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, visit the OEP website .
Job description
The Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) is seeking to appoint new members to its College of Experts as the college moves into its second, three-year term. This is an exciting opportunity to help provide comprehensive expertise to support the OEP in its work in England and Northern Ireland. You can find a list of our current College members here: Our College of Expert members.pdf
We are looking for experts in the monitoring and implementation of environmental law, the natural, economic, and social sciences, and those with operational delivery and regulatory experience in environmental domains. Evidence is essential to help us understand the state of the environment. We need evidence to monitor progress towards the government’s stated objective to leave the environment in a better state, than that in which it was inherited.
As we already have good coverage of many environmental areas within the OEP College of Experts, we are primarily seeking experts with expertise in at least one of the areas listed under Person specification below. Early career researchers are encouraged to apply.
The OEP College of Experts is composed of voluntary external experts from across research institutes, industry and eNGOs. At your own discretion, as a member you will be asked to contribute up to a maximum of 10 days a year towards participation in activities. You retain the right to accept or decline the request on whether to participate in the project. The OEP will ensure oversight of this.
As a member of the College you will support teams across the OEP and may be called upon to:
- Participate in workshops to help scope our work programme and priorities on specific themes. Relevant experts from the pool will be invited and the outputs will support the development of our knowledge and of gaps in that area.
- Provide expert input on specific issues, and the consequences and challenges arising from them with a particular emphasis on horizon scanning for emerging strategic issues.
- Where appropriate, participate in steering committees for specific project or programme.
- Act as expert reviewers to provide strategic challenge and assurance during projects. Reviewing the outputs of projects at key stages to ensure the conclusions, we are reaching are robust, valid, and realistic.
- Support webinars, workshops, discussion fora on specific technical or subject-specific areas
The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive. Also please note that inclusion in the College does not guarantee that you will be called upon to undertake work for the OEP. We have a multiannual programme of work at the OEP and will focus on specific areas each year, so frequency of requests will reflect this. We will keep the college updated on what has and will be done through the College of Experts annually.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Evidence of a high level of relevant experience or expertise within the OEP’s remit, and a strong record of achievement of influencing or delivering environmental improvement.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, to assess the impact of changes within your area of expertise and how these fit with local and national issues.
- We are primarily seeking experts with strong expertise in at least one of the following areas:
- Environmental planning
- Environmental law and regulation in Northern Ireland and/or the island or Ireland
- Environmental impacts on marine vertebrates
- Marine ecosystems and processes
- Freshwater biodiversity and habitat improvements
- Nutrients
- Waste
- Chemicals
- Air quality
- Biosecurity, particularly invasive species
- Environmental social science
- Systems thinking
- Prospective Analysis
Desirable Criteria
- Experience and evidence of working in multidisciplinary groups to provide evidence-based assessments or judgement. Examples which relate to Government working and/ or working with policy (including legislative) development, application, or evaluation, will be particularly welcome.
- Experience of explaining complex issues in a way that is easy to understand. Consider the impact of the language you use. Remain open-minded and impartial in discussions, whilst respecting the diverse interests and opinions of others.
- Encourage, recognise, and share innovative ideas supported by knowledge of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources.
Benefits
There is no day rate or any other payment for work that can be provided but any pre-agreed, reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed.
By taking the opportunity to volunteer with the OEP you can:
- use your skills and knowledge to benefit our natural environment for current and future generations
- help to increase the OEP’s scientific understanding and evidence base
- provide strategic challenge and assurance to our work monitoring government’s progress
- gain career experience
- participate in a new interesting challenge
- expand your network and meet new people from a range of backgrounds
- be part of a valued part of a community of experts
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
Application
All applicants will be required to complete a CV, providing details of past experience and employment, qualifications and a personal statement.
Your personal statement should outline how you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification. We would like you to provide details of your experience by providing examples.
Please provide details of publications, institutions or work you have done. This is not a name blind, recruitment but an application to a college of experts where we require this information to make decisions where relevant.
You can use up to 1000 words in your personal statement.
Sift
After the closing date, your application will be reviewed by an internal selection panel. The panel will make recommendations for appointment based on individual applications and evidence provided against the person specification.
You will be notified via the application centre if the OEP would like to appoint you to the College of Experts.
All successful applicants will be sent a formal offer, including the terms of reference agreement, by e-mail and to declare any potential conflicts of interest.
If successful you will need to undergo Right to Work and BPSS security checks.
Interview
There will be no interview for this voluntary role.
Salary
There is no salary for this voluntary role. Pre-agreed, reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed.
Location
Due to the nature of the College of Experts, members will work remotely. There may be a requirement to travel and work at OEP or other office locations. This will form part of any offer to contribute to work for the OEP.
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.
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.
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
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : collegeofexperts@theoep.org.uk
- Email : collegeofexperts@theoep.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@theoep.org.uk