Regulatory Assurance Technical Lead

Civil Service
Part Time
Aberdeen
84,685 - 97,550
Posted 3 days ago

Categories: Government Operations Management Employer website Report this listing

Job Description

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 UKs 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.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here:https://forms.office.com/e/pqUhdr3L72

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). OPRED is responsible for:

Developing, administering and enforcing the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime covering offshore oil and gas, offshore gas unloading and storage, and offshore carbon dioxide storage (collectively referred to as offshore energy projects).

Handling domestic and international policy relating to the development of the environmental regulatory framework for offshore energy projects.

Delivering the Departments Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) programme, which enables the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to license offshore areas for oil and gas, gas storage and carbon dioxide storage, and the Crown Estate to lease offshore areas for renewable energy developments.

This role reports directly to the Head of Operations for OEU (Offshore environmental Unit) and provides technical leadership to the Environmental Management Team (EMT) and acts as the focal point for some complex, high-risk regulatory issues across OEU. It ensures regulatory decisions are legally robust, consistent and defensible, acting as OEU primary interface with the Legal team and leading any involvement of OPRED in litigation. The role also provides expert advice on offshore environmental issues of national importance, and drives continuous improvement in regulatory consistency, capability and assurance across the OEU.

The Offshore Environmental Unit consists of:

Environmental Management Team (EMT) leads environmental assessment and approval of offshore energy projects across the UK Continental Shelf, ensuring decisions are evidence-based, proportionate and legally sound across the full lifecycle

Offshore Environmental Inspectorate (OEI) delivers inspection, investigation and enforcement to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, including OPEP assessment and 24/7 emergency response

Atmospherics provides specialist regulation of emissions and atmospheric impacts, including UK ETS and The Offshore Combustion Installations (Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2013 (PPC)

Person specification

Work alongside the EMT Technical Lead to provide technical leadership to the Environmental Management Team, ensuring consistent and legally robust interpretation of environmental legislation, and provide advice and support to the wider OPRED teams on regulatory functions.

Act as the responsible lead for complex and high-risk regulatory issues, including cases involving ambiguity or the need for precedent-setting decisions, high-profile or sensitive matters, ensuring clear escalation, structured decision-making and consistent, defensible outcomes.

Act as the primary interface with the Legal team, leading engagement on complex regulatory issues, commissioning advice as an intelligent client, and translating legal advice into clear, practical and decision-ready positions.

Provide expert advice to government, industry, stakeholders and the general public on offshore environmental issues, including matters of national importance, with engagement across Ministers, Special Advisers and the Press Office as required.

Provide challenge and assurance on complex regulatory positions, testing legal and evidential robustness, proportionality and alignment with policy intent and organisational risk appetite.

Lead any involvement of OPRED litigation, working closely with the Legal team to ensure a strong evidential basis and a clear, consistent organisational position.

Drive organisational learning and capability development, embedding lessons from complex cases and strengthening the consistency, confidence and defensibility of regulatory decision-making across the Unit.

Contribute to the on-call rota and provide flexible cover at G6 level and across Technical Lead roles as required to maintain operational resilience.

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

Applicants must hold a degree or relevant postgraduate qualification in a scientific or technical discipline (qualifications with an environmental focus are particularly desirable).
You should be able to demonstrate strong experience in applying regulatory and legislative frameworks within a technical or operational context, including experience of interpreting and supporting decisions under environmental, energy, or administrative law.
Good working understanding of legal principles, decision-making duties, and regulatory risk is essential.

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge and experience in relation to environmental protection, operational delivery and legislation relevant to the offshore energy sector.

Oil and gas industry experience would be beneficial.

Applicants with experience of working closely with legal teams, or of operating in legally sensitive regulatory environments, will be at a distinct advantage.

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