Principal Investigations Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 369310**Salary**:

- £57,141- This is a permanent and pensionable appointment and new entrants will normally start on the minimum of the pay range.- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%**Job grade**:

- Other- C1**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- Environmental Standards Scotland**Type of role**:

- Policy**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- EdinburghAbout the job

**Job summary**:
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is an independent corporate body, directed by a Chair and Board. ESS is a Non-Ministerial Office, part of the Scottish Administration, and employees are civil servants. Full details are available on the ESS website Home - Environmental Standards Scotland.

ESS was established by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, which received royal ascent in January 2021. ESS was established and gained its statutory functions and powers on 1 October 2021.

ESS has been set up to ensure environmental laws and standards are adhered to in Scotland, replacing the European Union’s scrutiny and enforcement role after Brexit.

The remit of ESS covers a broad range of environmental law, including all aspects of environmental protection and harm, particularly in relation to human beings and their enjoyment of the environment.

ESS’ role is to scrutinise, investigate and secure improvements in public authorities’ compliance with environmental law, the effectiveness of environmental law, and the way it is being implemented and applied in Scotland.

The body has published a Strategic Plan, setting out how it will operate and function, including how it will act objectively, impartially, proportionately and transparently. ESS is accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the effective performance of its functions.

The organisation will carry out its role by:

- monitoring information about the quality of the environment in Scotland and the effectiveness of environmental law, including representations brought forward by citizens and interested groups
- seeking information from public authorities, including the Scottish Government, and working with the public authorities to understand the background to regulatory policies and practices
- selecting a small number of cases for detailed investigation, prioritising cases where there is the greatest risk to the environment
- working with public authorities, where necessary, to seek to agree changes in practice to reflect environmental law, or develop advice on recommended changes to the law to improve its effectiveness

**Job description**:
The role of Principal Investigation Officer will be critical to the work of ESS, which is high-profile, complex and consequential. The post-holder will be part of the Investigations, Standards and Compliance team, and will report to the head of department. The investigation function considers information submitted to ESS by members of the public and organisations, and other matters of concern to ESS’ Board. Information will be supplied to the Board to allow the selection of cases for detailed investigation, and these cases will be investigated through collection of information from public authorities and other experts as appropriate. Updates and recommendations will be made to ESS’ Board, and progress will be reported to the members of the public and organisations that report concerns to ESS.

You will report directly to the Head of the Investigations Standards and Compliance (ISC) team. This role currently has no direct line management responsibility but this may change in the future.

This is a key role within the ISC team. You will work with the ESS Board, colleagues and stakeholders, across all levels, to assist with the work of ESS. You will need an eye for detail and the ability to be creative in your approach to challenges, alongside being proactive in seeking to continuously improve existing processes and procedures.

Your duties will be focused on delivering the following four ESS strategic outcomes:

- taking action to ensure compliance and effectiveness
- investigating the most important environmental concerns
- engaging and communicating effectively about our role and how to raise concerns
- an effective and efficient organisation

**Essential Criteria**
- Excellent interpersonal, networking and team-working skills, with experience of allocating work to match resources.
- Experience of analysing complex information to produce clear, concise and well-structured written work, with clear evidence-based recommendations.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands, and use of initiative and judgement to develop handling strategies to resolve sensitive issues.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to en