JOB SUMMARY

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe.
Learn much more about DIO in our Candidate Information Guide attached.
DIO recognises that a diverse workforce is at the heart of different insights, ideas and innovation. A workforce diverse in background and life experience produces trusted public services and better decisions. We want our people to be curious and continuously strive for improvement, collaborative in an inclusive culture, ambitious and resilient and committed to Defence, empowered and able to challenge so you can play a key part in shaping the direction of our organisation.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Are you ready to take on a pivotal role as a Senior Environmental Planner within our dynamic Environmental Planning Team?
Join us in working on a diverse range of projects across our estate, from deep space infrastructure to military accommodation and nuclear defence. You will be able to apply your expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to enable the delivery of sustainable defence infrastructure for our Armed Forces.
As a key member of our team, you will collaborate with a mix of civilian and military colleagues, external consultants, legal advisors, and senior leaders within the Defence sector and government, both in the UK and overseas.
In this role, no two days will be the same. You will be part of a close-knit team of EIA experts, working together to tackle unique challenges and drive impactful outcomes. While there are currently no line management responsibilities, there is potential for growth as you contribute to the team’s development.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Extensive expertise in providing advice on EIA approach and assurance of EIA documentation for infrastructure projects.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of current and emerging environmental planning legislation and regulations.
• Strong communication skills to engage with diverse stakeholders, both technical and non-technical, ensuring clear communication, alongside proven customer and stakeholder management experience to enable project success.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in providing expert advice and assurance on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
• Project management skills.

QUALIFICATIONS

A relevant environmental degree and applicable post graduate employment OR equivalent or higher combination of qualifications and applicable experience.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

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

• Property Professional Expertise/EIA – Practitioner/Expert Level.

EMPLOYMENT HOURS

The post advertised is for 37 hours net, however the Ministry of Defence offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. Flexible working and Part-time working patterns will be considered.
Where business needs allow, this role may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working, therefore you must consider if any of the above locations are within a reasonable travelling distance. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business (i.e., detached duty) or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition - £250-£5000 per year.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework and Competency Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.
Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the Full Qualification Details and Job History.
Please provide your evidence for behaviours using the STAR Technique using the attached information on how to apply.
Situation: Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand. Where are you? Who was there with you? What had happened?
Task: The recruitment panel will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in. What was the task that you had to complete and why? What did you have to achieve?
Action: What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information of what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.
Result: Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures easily understandable. What results did the actions produce? What did you achieve through your actions, and did you meet your goals? Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience? Keep the situation and task parts brief.
Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths. When providing your evidence please ensure that you avoid acronyms and company specific jargon.
At application you will be assessed against the following:
CV: Your CV should include detailed job history, full qualification information, and previous skills and experience.
Personal Statement:
As part of the application process, you will need to submit a 750-word Personal Statement. This is your opportunity to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the job requirements. Specifically, you should address the following points:
‘Describe your experience of Environmental Impact Assessment and how your experience is relevant to this role’.
At interview you will be assessed against the above PLUS the following:

EXPERIENCE:

• Information from the application forms and a scenario-based briefing.

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)
• 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide expert EIA advice and assurance to project teams, ensuring compliance with EIA requirements and undertaking reviews of externally produced EIA documentation.
• Manage team workload effectively to align with defence and security priorities, identifying and mitigating risks to enhance delivery and operational efficiency.
• Contribute to shaping internal EIA policy and guidance documents, actively participating in the development of MOD/DIO related materials.
• Assist in the procurement of consultancy and legal services, ensuring compliance with standards and providing tender assurance.
• Offer informed advice on emerging environmental planning legislation and regulations, delivering clear guidance on potential implications for defence infrastructure delivery.
  Travel requirements for this role include visits to various offices and in-person meetings. You will also have opportunities to visit project sites and occasionally attend public consultation events and engage in overseas travel to support defence initiatives.
  This role offers a unique opportunity to work on impactful projects, collaborate with a diverse range of professionals, and contribute to the defence sector’s mission. If you are a proactive and results-driven individual with a passion for environmental planning, we invite you to be part of our team and make a difference.