Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive. We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.
Job description
The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is part of the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero and is responsible for:
- Developing, administering, and enforcing the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime covering offshore oil and gas, offshore gas unloading and storage and offshore carbon dioxide storage (collectively referred to as offshore energy projects).
- Handling domestic and international policy relating to developing the environmental regulatory framework for offshore energy projects.
- The Department’s Strategic Environmental Assessment for offshore energy projects, which allows the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to licence offshore areas for oil and gas, gas storage and carbon dioxide storage and the Crown Estate to lease offshore areas for offshore renewable energy developments.
Within OPRED, the Regional Delivery Programmes are responsible for developing, administering, and ensuring compliance with the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime in relation to offshore oil and gas.
Within the Regional Delivery Programmes, the Environmental Management Team is responsible for the environmental assessment and approval of offshore energy projects, across three regional areas within the UK continental shelf, covering the entire life cycle of the offshore operations.
Key Responsibilities:
The Environmental Manager role in the Environmental Management Team deals with ensuring the regulation of offshore energy projects takes full account of environmental and social objectives, through robust and effective implementation of domestic legislation, international agreements and agreed codes of practice in line with UK and Departmental policy, to ensure offshore energy projects do not have a significant adverse on the environment or other uses of the sea.
The post holder will be responsible for reviewing environmental impact assessments and determining environmental applications for offshore energy projects. The work areas include (but not limited to):
- initial applications for licences and operatorship;
- applications for geological surveys;
- applications and notifications for drilling and well intervention operations;
- applications and submissions for proposed developments;
- applications relating to marine discharges and atmospheric emissions; and
- applications relating to the final decommissioning of offshore facilities.
The post holder will additionally be responsible for:
- providing support on the development of policy on emerging environmental issues;
- providing advice to operators on legislative and procedural matters;
- liaising with statutory consultees and other environmental bodies; and
- the management of environmental projects and research activities funded by the Department.
Essential Criteria:
Applicants must have extensive knowledge and/or experience relating to offshore industries, particularly offshore oil and gas, gas unloading and storage, and carbon capture and storage; and have relevant knowledge and/or experience relating to the marine environment, environmental impact assessment environmental legislation and the management of environmental issues.
Applicants must have an honours degree or equivalent qualification, or a post-graduate qualification in one of the following areas:
- Climate and Atmospheric Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Pollution, Marine Resource Development and Protection.
- Biology, Bioscience, Marine Biology, Microbiology or Zoology.
Desirable Criteria:
Applicants should ideally have experience in relation to the administration of environmental legislation in a regulatory role.
Salary range: £80,745 – £90,200
Application deadline: July 2, 2026
