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Job description

Thank you for your interest in this post of Chief Industrial & Radiochemical Inspector (Senior Principal, Grade 6) in our Industrial Pollution & Radiochemical Inspectorate (IPRI) within the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The NIEA is an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). NIEA operates within the context of the Department’s overall vision, strategic objectives and policies. NIEA’s purpose is to protect and enhance Northern Ireland’s environment, and in doing so, deliver health and well-being benefits, and support economic growth. NIEA is committed to ensuring that it uses its resources, organises and delivers its functions in a way that reflects the priorities set by the DAERA Minister for the Agency, and also supports the delivery of the priorities and objectives of DAERA. Further information about NIEA can be obtained on the Internet at https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/northern-ireland-environment-agency. This is a dynamic and challenging opportunity for an effective individual to lead a multi-disciplinary team and develop operational policy and strategy that will make a difference to NI society through the control of pollution and pollution risk from a range of prescribed industrial activities and the control of the use and disposal of radioactive substances. The individual will need to provide leadership and promote cohesiveness. They will be working closely with their Branches, NIEA senior management team, and the wider Department and the Northern Ireland Civil Service. They will also be expected to interact with stakeholders across the NI industrial sector and other agencies. If you believe you have the skills and experience to tackle this post, I would be delighted if you would take the next step and complete and submit the application form.

Responsibilities

• The primary responsibilities include overseeing pollution control and risk mitigation across a diverse range of industrial activities.
• The postholder is also accountable for managing the use and disposal of radioactive materials, controlling major accident hazards, monitoring and reporting carbon dioxide emissions from both industry
• and government, and promoting energy efficiency techniques.
• Please see Candidate Information Booklet for further information.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must have, by the closing date for applications:
• A qualification of at least a foundation degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND) at- National Learning Level 5, or equivalent, in a relevant scientific discipline
• AND, At least two years' practical post qualification regulatory experience at a professional level, gained within the last five years, in enforcing environmental legislation.
• AND, At least two years’ post qualification experience at a senior management level of successfully leading and managing a multi-disciplinary team to deliver against environmental outcomes.
• AND, At least two years’ senior management experience of building effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and successfully negotiating and influencing to deliver improvements or agreed outcomes.
• AND, A full valid driving licence which permits the licence holder to drive in Northern Ireland and have access to a form of transport that allows the successful candidate to fulfil their duties in full.
• Please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the following shortlisting criteria will be used in the order listed:
• The depth and breadth of the information provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 2.
• And should further shortlisting be appropriate: The depth and breadth of information provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 3.
• The Panel will complete this assessment against the information provided in response to the eligibility criteria. This will be completed on a scored basis and only the highest scoring applicants will proceed to interview.

Further Information

Location: NIEA Headquarters, 17 Antrim Road, Tonagh, Lisburn, BT28 3AL. NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 9th October 2026 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority 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: IRC330203)