Your passion has never had a greater purpose
Here at SEPA, we’re connected by a passion that drives us to be purposeful in every action we take - to protect our environment. Through our expertise, we lead projects that make a difference for Scotland, and our workplaces are grounded in respect for that expertise.
That’s why, when you join us as Head of Authorisations, you’ll discover enriching benefits, meaningful support, and opportunities to learn every day. That’s what it means to be Passionately Purposeful - for our environment, and for your career.
Work that goes beyond your desk
Experts at what we do, we work in a professional way towards our shared goals, knowing the work we do makes a genuine, lasting difference on the environment. As Head of Authorisations, that involves:
- Provide strategic leadership for SEPA’s authorisations function, ensuring environmental permits, licences and registrations are issued in line with legislation and policy.
- Lead the development and delivery of efficient, risk-based, and proportionate authorisation processes that enable environmental protection and sustainable economic activity.
- Oversee the transformation of authorisation services through digital innovation, automation, and customer-focused improvements.
- Ensure consistency, transparency, and rigour in decision-making across all authorisation activities.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with regulated businesses, Scottish Government, and other stakeholders to support compliance and continuous improvement.
- Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence.
Respect for your expertise
This is a highly important role within our Regulation, Business & Environment portfolio which means you will need:
- Proven senior leadership experience with a track record of delivering organisational change leading and motivating multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience in leading regulatory and data-driven policy development, supported by proven record at a senior strategic level
- Proven ability to develop and implement strategic plans that deliver measurable outcomes and service improvements.
- Experience in driving digital transformation and process innovation.
- Experience engaging credibly at the highest levels with government, industry, and stakeholders.
Support that goes beyond the workplace
We’re cultivating a workplace that supports not only your passion and your professional lives, but your personal life. So, you’ll find benefits that make a difference at work and at home. Such as:
- Hybrid and Flexible working opportunities
- Up to 35 days annual leave and 7 additional public holidays each year (pro rata)
- Paid time off to support your Wellbeing and enable you to Volunteer in your community
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Progressive Family Friendly policies
- Training & development to enable colleagues to improve their skills, competencies and knowledge to perform at their best.
Plus, many more lifestyle benefits such as 24/7 access to an online employee discount platform, credit union facilities and access to a Cycle to Work Scheme.
Passionately you. Purposefully supportive
SEPA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and good relations in everything it does - as a community leader, as a provider and commissioner of services, and as an employer.
Passionately Purposeful about Scotland’s environment - and your career.
Protecting our environment, promoting our work, and supporting our people, working at SEPA means being part of an organisation that’s grounded in respect for your expertise - and your wellbeing. So, you can be your best, and make the biggest impact.
We recruit solely based on merit. Our shortlisting process is conducted on an anonymous basis. Please ensure that you include all relevant information when you apply.
We support flexible working arrangements to help you maintain a healthy balance between career and homelife. This includes working part time, reduced hours, job sharing, working remotely. As a flexible first employer we are open to
having conversations about flexible working arrangements that work for you and SEPA from day 1 of your employment with us.
We are proud to be a 'Disability Confident' employer and will work to identify and implement reasonable adjustments and equipment to support you in the role that you do.
Applicants with a visual impairment can request job descriptions and application forms in Braille, large print or on tape.
For the security and wellbeing of our colleagues, successful candidates will undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) pre-employment checks including a level two Disclosure Scotland check.
If you have questions or need any assistance with the recruitment process please contact SEPA’s Recruitment Team at recruitment@sepa.org.uk
As part of the recruitment process, applications for this vacancy will be shared with our external recruitment partner, FWB Ltd, for initial review. By applying, you consent to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) sharing your personal data with FWB Ltd for the purposes of recruitment, in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information, please refer to our privacy notice.
Apply now to join a Passionately Purposeful workplace 
