Climate Action Environmental Engineer

Climate Action Environmental Engineer

Closing Date: 7th March 2022

Are you passionate about tackling climate change and being at the forefront of climate action and push the boundaries of what we can achieve?

Do you have extensive technical knowledge of low carbon and wider sustainable building techniques with a strong record of providing such expert design & build advice/guidance/performance monitoring on development schemes and policy documents?

Then this exciting, innovative & forward thinking role in the new Climate Action Team is for you!

Overview:

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 recently published by the first 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.

This post is initially fixed for 4 years, with opportunity for extension, dependent on budget and successful outcomes.

Job Purpose:

The role requires a proactive and innovative approach, influencing and providing expert technical and professional input to key development proposals and innovative local plan policies. Working with district authorities and partner institutions to help you will ensure that all new developments meet national and local climate action goals through the planning and building process. You'll also establish a new approach to monitoring and maintain this service, where the performance of new-build developments can be tested and reviewed.

You will need drive and ambition, and an ability to work under your own initiative, coupled with an excellent 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 initiatives and secure net-zero development across the Essex.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced person with an engaging and professional attitude and who has extensive experience of providing advice to secure a higher level of sustainable measures in development. The successful candidate will need excellent 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.

Service/Functional Accountabilities:

· Provide expert advice on the drafting of local planning policies and supplementary planning documents relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation to ensure policies can deliver net-zero ambitions and wider sustainability objectives. The role will also involve working with districts to create a Climate Change/Energy Strategy in relation to new build across the County.

· Provide expert technical advice and responses on net-zero and wider sustainability objectives to emerging development proposals at pre application, masterplanning and formal planning application stage. This will involve working with district officers and developers and will include supporting the development of schemes including new garden communities and major settlement extensions.

· Attend and support local authorities at hearings, public examinations, committee meetings and planning appeals.

· Establish and maintain a Monitoring Service where the performance of new build development can be reviewed to ensure it is meeting the climate action standards that were committed to in the planning application, and subsequent working with enforcement officers as appropriate.

· Develop and facilitate a certification service (such as BREEAM) where development schemes meet the required standards.

· Work with the Lead Planner on Climate Action leading on and implementing and monitoring the ECAC New Build Built Environment recommendations.

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

· Participate in networks in respect of climate action to exchange and produce best practice ideas and maintain a reference library of such best practice.

· Maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant climate change legislation, policy, and other relevant guidance.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

· Educated to degree level in a relevant environment/engineering/building science degree or equivalent by experience.

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

· Good understanding of the Planning System including the National Planning Policy Framework, Local Plans, and national environment and climate policies and legislation such as the Future Home Standard, 25 Year Environment Plan, the Environment Bill and annual reports published by national and international Climate Change Bodies.

· Extensive 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 policy documents.

· Have an ability to confidently communicate on 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.

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