Senior Environmental Advisor

Job summary

The Environmental Services Team (EST) is responsible for providing support and advice to applicants, Inspectors and Examining Authorities across the Planning Inspectorate’s Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and Town and Country Planning appeals casework.

You will work at the heart of the planning system working with inspectors, applicants, statutory bodies, and consenting departments — helping to ensure environmental assessments are robust, proportionate and grounded in best practice.

Joining us, you will gain experience working in some of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects and help to deliver decisions relating to future energy security and broader infrastructure needs.

You will be working within a supportive team with a strong focus on efficient and effective delivery of the service in the context of an evolving planning system. There is scope for creative and imaginative people to help shape the future of the service and its interaction with the wider planning system.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced environmental professional with a strong background in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), environmental planning, or a specialist environmental discipline (e.g. ecology, air quality, landscape).
You’ll coordinate and lead technical assessments, provide high‑quality advice, mentor colleagues, and work across high‑profile NSIPs and appeals.

A typical week might include:

• Meeting developers to discuss the environmental implications of their Development Consent Order (DCO) application
• Reviewing Environmental Statements, screening and scoping opinions
• Providing technical direction and support as the weekly “duty SEO”
• Undertaking technical reviews of team members’ work
• Participating in training and knowledge‑sharing sessions

Key Responsibilities

• Lead environmental input into complex NSIP & planning casework providing advice to developers and examining authorities
• Support wider team members in providing timely and accurate advice on planning appeals and applications to the Secretary of State
• Independently assess EIA, and other environmental assessment types, advising case teams and Inspectors and writing or contribute to writing planning inspectorate outputs.
• Review and sign off work completed by other team members
• Work within the EST management team to ensure the smooth running of the service
• Support continuous improvement and contribute to cross‑government initiatives
• Build effective relationships with applicants, statutory bodies and colleagues
• Mentor and coach team members to support professional development

This role offers a rare opportunity to work on some of the country’s largest and most complex infrastructure projects, while developing professionally in a highly supportive team. It also represents an opportunity to feed directly into the evolving processes that drive consideration of environmental issues in the planning system.

Salary

This role is being advertised at SEO Grade with a starting salary of £46,689

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, flexible working hours policy available

Part‑time options from 22.5 hours/week, job share, term‑time and compressed hours available

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based in Bristol, 10 minute walk from Temple Meads train station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria listed:

Essential

• Qualification (typically a Graduate degree or suitable alternative qualifications or professional experience) in a relevant environmental or land use disciple (e.g. environmental science, impact assessment, landscape, air quality or planning)
• Understanding of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) including significant experience of leading or responding to EIAs
• Effective communicator able to provide concise, accurate advice on complex technical issues and work effectively with a range of stakeholders (internal and external)
• Strong personal effectiveness able to plan and deliver quality work with minimal supervision to a high standard.
• Experience in overseeing others in a project context providing including delivery management, quality assurance, mentoring, and coaching support

Desirable

• Full Member and/or Chartered status in an appropriate professional institute.
• Detailed knowledge of the Planning Act 2008 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990 regimes and experience of their operation in practice.
• Experience of undertaking and/or reviewing other relevant assessments such as HRAs, MCZAs, Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs), or WFD assessments
• Able to make positive, constructive contributions to the continuous improvement of the service.

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Experienced environmental professional with expert knowledge and experience of leading and managing others in the production and/or review of core EIA deliverables.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,689, Planning Inspectorate contributes £13,525 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
• Generous family friendly policies.
• Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams.

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

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

Application

Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:

• A CV: The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the essential criteria of the job you're applying for. Type or paste this information into the 'Employment History' box in the online application. You can't attach your CV.
• Technical : Provide evidence against the technical criteria set out in the person specification. There is a word limit of 250 word for each technical criteria.

All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

Interview

If you are shortlisted, you will:

• Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
• Interviews will be a blend of behaviour, strength, experience and technical questions

Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.

Other Information

Shortlist Date: w/c 9th March 2026

Interview Date: 16th - 27th March 2026

Interviews will be held at The Planning Inspectorate, Bristol, further details will be sent with the invite to interview.

The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Future Matches

Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.

ID and Documents

If the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you'll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.

We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.

Visa Sponsorship

The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.

Disability Confident Interview scheme/Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job's minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Phil La Gouais
• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact in the first instance: The Vacancy Manager via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitme…

Attachments

EVP(Great_Place_To_Work) Opens in new window (pdf, 534kB)