PFAS Planning Specialist; Senior Advisor, E&B, Agriculture & Land; National

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.

England faces two major challenges: a declining natural environment and the need for renewed economic growth. The Environment Agency is uniquely positioned to support the government's growth mission while protecting and enhancing our environment.

Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called 'forever chemicals', represent one of the most pressing chemical challenges of our time. There is growing evidence that their widespread use and past management have generated risks of harm to people and to the environment, including wildlife. This is an important issue for the government to address.

We have a great opportunity for a PFAS Planning Specialist who is confident in communicating with and influencing various stakeholders and has a good working knowledge of land contamination risk management, PFAS contamination and remediation as well as the spatial and land use planning system in England.

You will be responsible for delivering actions in the Governments PFAS plan including:

• embedding the Environment Agency's PFAS multicriteria Geographic Information System (GIS) prioritisation mapping internally and with other public sector organisations
• Develop technical guidance for regulators and industry on managing legacy PFAS contamination across the spatial and land use planning system to ensure a consistent and practical approach
• Provide strategic technical PFAS support to operational teams on Local Plans, New Towns, New homes accelerator and stalled sites, Enterprise zones, Critical growth sites and pre-application discussions on complex PFAS contaminated sites.

In your capability-based answers please demonstrate your experience of the sector and in particular, challenges around addressing PFAS.

You’ll join our Land and Contamination Management Team as part of the Agriculture & Land section within the Environment & Business Directorate.

We’re a dispersed team, very welcoming and will provide plenty of support. You will be working closely with colleagues in Planning & Place, National Groundwater team and Chemicals Regulatory team as well as the virtual PFAS Working Group and operational teams across the Environment Agency.