Senior Sustainability and Built Environment Specialist

Are you a built environment, development or construction professional or work in a closely related discipline?  Do you have a good working technical knowledge of delivery of low or zero carbon development and wider sustainable building techniques or are interested in developing your skills or interests further?

Are you also you passionate about tackling climate change and want to be at the forefront of climate action in development, pushing the boundaries of what can achieved?   

Are you seeking a new, fresh opportunity to tackle climate change across Essex and challenge existing approaches and positions, and are keen to see innovation in building, construction and environment design and operation to meet net zero goals?

Then this exciting and forward-thinking role is for you!

 

This post is initially fixed for 3 years, with real opportunity for extension, depending on budget, successful outcomes and potential growth of the service. It is also deemed to be an “anywhere worker” role so hybrid working is possible.

Background

 

Essex County Council (ECC) is committed to taking robust action on climate change and significantly reduce carbon emissions.  With 180,000 new homes expected across Essex, we’re determined to achieve the very highest standards of climate change mitigation and adaptation in new developments. This is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the climate change agenda within Essex and help to achieve and implement strong recommendations published by the Essex Climate Action Commission (ECAC). A key recommendation is that all new homes and commercial buildings granted planning permissions will be net zero carbon by 2025 and carbon positive by 2030.  

The Opportunity

This senior role requires a proactive and innovative approach, providing technical and professional input majoring on key development proposals as well as also helping the team to apply innovative new net zero local plan policies.  

Working to help local authorities and partner institutions you will ensure that all new developments meet national and local climate action goals through the planning and building process. You’ll also have opportunity to help establish new approaches to monitoring and maintain this service, especially  consideration of how the performance of new-build developments can be tested and reviewed.  

You will need plenty of drive and ambition, and an ability to work as part of a small team and to deadlines as well as under your own initiative, coupled with a good technical knowledge on low carbon and wider climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques.  Your creative approach to problem solving will help to deliver high quality environmental and climate solutions and secure net-zero and sustainable development across the Essex.  

Moreover, we are seeking a highly motivated person with an engaging and professional attitude and who has experience in securing a higher level of sustainable and low carbon/net zero measures in new/retrofit development. The successful candidate will need good analytical skills and be able to communicate complex processes and topics to a varied audience including local authority officers, elected members, developers, partner organisations, as well as members of the public.   

Accountabilities

Provide technical professional advice on achieving net-zero and wider sustainability objectives in emerging development proposals at pre application, masterplanning and formal planning application stage. This will involve working with district planning officers and developers, and will include influencing and supporting the development of schemes,at a variety of scales, supporting the Principal Sustainability and Built Environment Specialist.

Assist the Lead Planning Officer (Climate Action) in  helping to support the developing partnership with Essex authorities on drafting local planning policies and supplementary planning documents.  Relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation the aim is to ensure policies can deliver net-zero ambitions and wider sustainability objectives. Support to colleagues at public hearings and committee meetings may be required on occasions.  

Assist with exploration of opportunities to establish a system of monitoring and mitigation of built development, including certification as appropriate, where the performance of new build development is reviewed to ensure it is meeting the standards that were committed in the planning permission. ,

Work with other officers within the wider team on implementing and monitoring the ECAC New Build Built Environment recommendations.

Provide technical and professional advice and guidance to County officers and Members regarding planning and exemplar schemes in relation to climate change.

Actively participate in networks in respect of climate action to influence as well as exchange and produce best practice ideas; begin to create and maintain a reference library of such best practice and present information to others when required.

Maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant climate change legislation, policy, and other relevant guidance and disseminate regularly to colleagues through various networks and groups.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience 

Educated to degree level in a relevant architectural/surveying/environmental/sustainable building engineering/building science degree or equivalent by experience. 

Good technical knowledge on low carbon buildings, energy efficiency and renewables, water conservation, building techniques, construction practice, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and wider sustainability measures in the built environment. 

Practical on-site experience of sustainable building techniques would be highly desirable.

Good appreciation of the Building Regulations and awareness of the remit of the Planning System including national environment and climate policies and legislation such as the Future Homes/Building Standard.

experience of working with a variety of stakeholders and contributing to the  delivery of climate change and mitigation strategies and high-quality environmental initiatives through providing expert design advice/guidance on development schemes and/or policy documents.

Have an ability to confidently communicate and present complex topics with different stakeholders including other ECC and Essex Local Authority officers, Members, and partner organisations as well as robustly negotiate with developers and their supporting consultants.

Have excellent analytical skills and confident in analysing data and providing clear recommendations to stakeholders from analysis undertaken.

Have a good ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.

Good understanding of the structure of local government and processes including procurement

To read more about us please visit: Economy, Investment and Public Health

Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

What you should do next

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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