Location
Warrington, Newcastle or Darlington, Leeds or York, Lincoln or Nottingham, Sutton Coldfield or Tewkesbury, Bridgewater or Romsey, Welwyn Garden City or Farnham or Ipswich

Hours
Full time, Permanent, Flexible working available

Salary
£54,940 - £64,576 per annum (plus additional £4,750 for specialist COMAH expertise, subject to eligibility)

About the Role
Are you ready to make a real difference? Join our High Hazard specialist team as a Principal Regulatory Officer. We are committed to enhancing our regulatory practices and building a more effective regulatory framework. You will provide assurance on the quantity and quality of regulatory delivery at COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015) sites across England. As a nationally recognised expert, you will manage complex compliance issues and risks both environmentally and reputationally, working with your network across the business to deliver a consistent regulatory approach.

The role involves developing and leading less experienced officers, playing a key part in the leadership of COMAH delivery, driving business and workforce planning, assessing regulatory capabilities, and delivering training. You will provide advice and guidance using coaching skills to ensure effective delivery, shape local strategy and tactical direction, and manage risk.

The COMAH team covers a variety of industries, requiring strong influencing and negotiating skills to ensure best practice, often engaging with senior industry personnel, local communities, and other stakeholders.

What’s in it for you?
You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and inclusivity, where you’ll feel supported and trusted to do the right thing. We invest in your growth and career development. Our benefits package includes:
- A salary of £54,940 - £64,576 per annum plus an additional £4,750 allowance for specialist COMAH expertise (subject to eligibility)
- A generous pension scheme of 19%
- Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay
- 27 days holiday (increasing at 3, 6, and 10 years of service up to 30) plus 8 bank holidays
- Two additional paid environmental outcome days to participate in community activities
- Training and professional development time
- Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave schemes
- Flexible working policy to support a healthy work-life balance

What will you do?
- Ensure sites comply with COMAH regulatory requirements to prevent and limit major accident consequences, focusing on complex nationally significant sites
- Lead resolution of technical and reputational issues across a range of COMAH complex sites
- Lead site inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions for complex environmental incidents
- Support enforcement strategy development in collaboration with the COMAH Team Leader and Competent Authority partners
- Provide expert input for national investigations and work with partner organisations on joint initiatives
- Fulfil roles within the COMAH Competent Authority, such as Intervention Manager or Assessment Manager
- Shape national regulatory approach and delivery for COMAH
- Plan and deliver the COMAH work plan for your team, ensuring KPI achievement and providing assurance to your Regulatory Manager
- Oversee regulatory officers’ delivery, resolving issues and risks related to quantity and quality
- Develop and deliver training on complex technical activities to upskill COMAH officers
- Assess technical capabilities of COMAH officers to support workforce planning
- Respond to incidents as required, with full training and potential additional payment, supported by flexible working arrangements

The Team
You will join a newly formed team reporting to a COMAH Team Leader, working alongside Senior Regulatory Officers and Regulatory Officers. The team works directly with site operators and collaborates with national and local colleagues to improve COMAH delivery and assurance. The role involves regular site visits and fieldwork, requiring travel. Flexible working is welcomed and supported.

We are fully committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. You will have an Environment Agency office base location but will operate across multiple sites.

Experience
- Knowledge and practical application of the COMAH regime
- Understanding of COMAH Regulations or relevant regulatory/industry experience
- Experience working with partner organisations on joint initiatives and regulatory duties
- Proven influencing skills and success in developing good relations in complex environments
- Experience in training, coaching, and people development

About you
- Strong commitment to people development
- Ability to lead and deliver results through others
- Proven track record of taking initiative and applying continuous improvement approaches
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, able to engage with senior stakeholders and diverse groups

Qualifications
- Degree in a Scientific or Engineering subject or comparable external industrial experience
- Membership of a relevant professional body with Chartered status or working towards Chartered status
- Full UK driving licence

Desirable
- Regulatory experience across a range of complex sites and regimes
- Experience providing strategic and tactical direction