Contaminated Land Officer/Senior Officer

Contaminated Land Officer/Senior Officer

Job Ref: SOL000004660

Salary: £31,895 - £44,624 p.a. pro rata

Appointment and incremental progression subject to meeting essential criteria and performance in post.

Closing date: 17 July 2022

Job Type: Planning

Contract Type: Full time permanent

Hours: Full Time 37.0 hours per week

Location: SMBC Council House, Manor Square, Solihull, B91 3QB

Are you passionate about supporting urban regeneration, sustainable development and remediating contaminated land to support sustainable growth?

Answered, yes?

Then at Solihull, we may just have the job for you!

As part of our growing service Solihull Council are seeking to recruit a Contaminated Land Officer within our Planning and Public Protection Service. This is a new post where you will work closely with Public Health and Environmental Health and have the opportunity to help shape and embrace the council’s working around contaminated land and environmental pressures.

Solihull borough will be experiencing an unprecedented period of development due to the pending implementation of our draft Local Plan. This includes brownfield regeneration, substantial residential development across the Borough, including the new urban village within our UK Central flagship initiative. You will also be involved in helping deliver HS2 through the local planning process.

In this key role you will be the lead technical officer for delivery of Council services across Contaminated Land including responsibilities under Part 11A of the Environmental Protection Act and responding to planning consultations and pre-applications. This will include technically reviewing and critiquing phase I and phase II investigations, remediation method statements and verification reports to determine risks to human health and the environment.

Another important element of the post will be to maintain the relevant computer/manual mapping and database records and developing the Councils Contaminated Land Strategy.

To be successful in the role you will be an experienced professional, possessing extensive regulatory technical knowledge of contaminated land as well as detailed knowledge of contaminated land in the context of residential and industrial re-developments. You will also have knowledge of investigation and enforcement of contaminated land (Part 11A of the environmental protection Act 1990) including risk assessing and investigating potentially contaminated land and determining it and remediation measures.

You will also need

• A relevant degree in environmental science or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant professional accreditation.
• Detailed knowledge of contaminated land and environmental pollutants.
• Ability to produce accurate, high-quality work under pressure.
• A current and valid driver’s licence for site visits.
• A flexible and adaptable approach in order to support wider work programmes in public protection including matters of air quality, noise and other development linked pollutants.

In return we can offer

• A friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment.
• A wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• Flexible working including home working.
• Annual leave starting at 24 days and rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service with 8 public holidays and the opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days holiday per year.
• A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles) with up to 24 days flexitime allowed per year.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• A range of family and carer friendly policies.
• Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and staff discounts.

To apply, please click on the link below. If you have a specific question or require further information regarding this post, please contact David Wigfield, Team Leader for Planning, Enforcement and Public Protection on 0121 704 8082 or at dwigfield@solihull.gov.uk

Closing date: 17 July 2022 - we reserve the right to close this vacancy early therefore early applications are encouraged.

Interview date: Week commencing 25 July 2022.

Please note we do not accept CVs.

The Fluency Duty is outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. The Fluency Duty for this role is Required.

This post requires the following Disclosure and Barring check: Not required

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for and a commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Supporting documents

Job description and person specification