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Job description

Department for Infrastructure (DfI) The Department for Infrastructure employs around 3,000 staff and is organised under a Departmental structure of three Groups: - Transport and Road Asset Management - Climate, Planning and Public Transport - Water and Departmental Delivery Rivers Directorate is part of the Water and Departmental Delivery Group (WADD). Water and Departmental Delivery Group (WADD) WADD Group has responsibility for Departmental Flood Risk Management, NI Water (delivery plan and oversight), Sustainable Drainage Projects, DfI Strategic Plan and Business Plan, Financial Performance, Budget, Communications, Resource Management, and the DfI Legislative Programme including EU Exit Data and Learning Programme. The Group also oversees the Minister’s Office and Assembly Business and delivers digital services, statistics, and research and information management in support of business areas across the Department. As part of the WADD Group, the Rivers Directorates' vision is to manage flood risk, both now and into the future, to maintain and create sustainable living places and support economic development. The aims supporting the vision are "reducing risk to life and damage to property from flooding from rivers and the sea" and "undertaking watercourse and coastal flood management in a sustainable manner". Functions DfI is the statutory drainage authority for Northern Ireland. The Rivers Directorate leads in delivering this departmental responsibility. Under the terms of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973, the Department has discretionary powers to: - Maintain watercourses and sea defences which have been designated by the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland. - Construct and maintain drainage and sea defence structures. - Administer advisory and enforcement procedures to protect the drainage function of all watercourses. All executive functions arising from statutory remit under the Drainage Order are undertaken by this directorate and it also exercises DfI’s responsibilities with regard to regulation of the water levels in Lough Neagh and Lough Erne (the latter in conjunction with the Electricity Supply Board in the Republic of Ireland). Rivers Directorate also contributes to wider Departmental policy on these functions. The EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risk (2007/60/EC), more commonly known as the Floods Directive, was transposed into Northern Ireland legislation in November 2009 and is known as ‘The Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. Rivers Directorate supports DfI's role as the competent authority for the EU Floods Directive and is responsible for implementing its requirements. This requires a co-ordinated approach with other government departments and organisations. Rivers Directorate also works closely with colleagues in the Office of Public Works in Ireland to fulfil the obligations of the Directive in relation to trans- boundary catchments

Responsibilities

• The main duties of the post are:
• Considering proposed works from an environmental perspective and advising on the need for a full environmental impact assessment.
• Ensuring that all works are assessed under the appropriate environmental assessment regulations.
• Undertaking various types of environmental surveys including preworks walk-over surveys and river corridor surveys, post works audit surveys and geo-morphological surveys.
• This will entail accessing construction sites and watercourses through rough terrain and remote from public roads.
• Assisting in the evaluation of works assigned to and executed by environmental consultants.
• Contributing to the achievement of agreed working recommendations.
• Providing guidance on good working practices for sensitive river maintenance.
• Consulting with the Government and non-Government conservation bodies and interest groups.
• Please see the Candidate Information Booklet for further information.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must hold, by the closing date for applications:
• 1. At least a second class Honours Degree in one of the following subjects: Biology, Fisheries Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science or a closely related subject example of closely related subjects - Zoology, Geography or Botany
• AND, 2. A least 1 years relevant post-qualification experience gained in two or more of the following:
• Freshwater Ecology; Fisheries Biology; Environmental Surveys; Environmental Impact Assessments/Habitat Regulations Assessments; Conservation Legislation and Policy; or Hydrology/Hydromorphology.
• AND, 3. Possess a full current driving licence valid for driving in Northern Ireland and have access to a form of transport which will permit the applicant to meet the requirements of the post in full.

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to the next stage of selection, the following shortlisting criteria will be used in the order listed:
• 1. Three or more areas in relation to criteria 2 AND if necessary, 2. Four or more areas in relation criteria 2

Further Information

Location: DfI Rivers HQ, 49 Tullywiggan Road, Loughry, Cookstown, BT80 8SG. NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 21st August 2026 at 12 noon. Applications from males, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC328558)