Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Officer

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Officer – Maternity Cover

Grade K – L  (£54,360 to £61,686) 

Tower Hamlets is an exciting and fast changing location which includes the Tower of London World Heritage Site, Whitechapel, Brick Lane, Lower Lea Valley and Isle of Dogs Opportunity Areas which include Canary Wharf and the Olympic legacy. It’s one of London’s most diverse boroughs and has the highest target for new homes and jobs in the capital, with numerous complex and strategic scale planning applications. There are over fifty conservation areas, hundreds of listed buildings and an extensive river frontage including Tower Bridge.  You will not find a more interesting and varied place to develop your career. There is an opportunity for a highly motivated Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) specialist to join our Development Management team to help manage significant growth and deliver sustainable development.

Key Responsibilities

Tower Hamlets is one of the only local planning authorities to employ a dedicated EIA resource, and as such this is a unique opportunity for an experienced EIA professional to join our busy planning service. The role includes preparing screening and scoping opinions, scrutinising ESs, securing mitigation measures, and working with planning officers on EIA developments, to give standing to the environment in decision making and ensure the likely significant effects of developments are fully considered. [CS1] This role will play a key part in managing and delivering sustainable growth and regeneration in Tower Hamlets. The role will also be responsible for managing contracts with external consultants and managing the finances of the contracts.

The role holder will be the key point of contact on EIA matters within the Council, and as such will need to be confident working independently to resolve complex environmental issues, and liaising with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Council’s EIA consultants, developers and their consultants, planning officers, council members, statutory consultees and the general public.

Given the government’s intention to reform EIA through Environmental Outcome Reports (EOR), this role gives the opportunity to provide the Council’s formal response on any relevant government consultation’s undertaken relating to EOR, as well as advise the Council of the implications of EOR and make any preparations required to ensure the successful implementation when EOR comes into forces. [CS2] 

Requirements

The successful candidate will need to have a detailed understanding of The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended), with specific knowledge of the local planning authority’s roles and responsibilities.  

You will need good time management skills, organisational skills, and an eye for detail, whilst being able to make robust decisions in a timely manner.

 Additional Information

The Council offers competitive pay and conditions, with generous annual leave, flexible working arrangements, staff benefits, a modern workplace, travel card (Zone 2-3) and a supportive environment including training opportunities to develop your career. The Council office in Whitechapel provides a modern working environment and excellent transport links, including the new Elizabeth Line.

This post is open to the following types of applicants: External, Internal, Redeploy, Secondment

All applications should be made via our online application system, no CV’s or alternative forms of applications are accepted. Internal employees should apply via the council's Intranet. External applicants apply via the Council's website www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/careers  

For an informal discussion anout the role, please do not hesitate to contact Gareth Gwynne West Area DM Manager, [email protected] 07400 929734. 

Tower Hamlets vision for our borough is that: people are aspirational, independent and have equal access to opportunities; we are a borough that our residents are proud of and love to live in; and we are a dynamic, outcomes-based council using digital innovation and partnership working to respond to the changing needs of our borough. We want people who aspire to our TOWER values: Together; Open; Willing; Excellent; Respect.

Tower Hamlets has a zero-tolerance approach to, and works to eradicate, all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, status as a civil partner, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy and maternity and looks to employ a diverse workforce representative of those groups. We recognise that people can also be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class.

We welcome applicants interested in flexible working arrangements and also applicants who live in the borough. Many officers in our Development Management team, work from home several days per week, and the amount of in office time can be flexible for the post. This can be discussed further with the successful applicant, based on their specific circumstances.

Tower Hamlets is a truly unique borough at the heart of London – a place where history and innovation sit side by side. From the docks and markets that shaped the East End to the global business hub of Canary Wharf, we are proud to be one of the most dynamic, diverse, and ambitious communities in the UK. We are also one of the fastest growing and youngest boroughs in the country, offering unrivalled opportunities to make a real difference to people’s lives. Our residents are energetic, creative, and resilient, and our council is committed to delivering the best possible services and opportunities for them.

Our award-winning new Town Hall in Whitechapel provides a modern, flexible workplace for our staff, right at the heart of the borough and directly opposite Whitechapel Tube and Elizabeth line station. It is more than just a workplace – it’s a hub for collaboration, innovation and community, designed to bring out the best in our people.

As an employer, we put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do. Our active Employee Network Groups celebrate and champion our workforce, helping to ensure that everyone feels a sense of belonging. Guided by our TOWER values – Together, Open, Willing, Excellent and Respect – we are building a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive.

At Tower Hamlets Council, you’ll find exciting challenges, supportive colleagues, and the chance to shape one of London’s most important and vibrant places. If you’re looking for a role where you can see the impact of your work every day, then Tower Hamlets is the place for you.