Senior Regulatory Officer - COMAH - 33180
CompanyEnvironment Agency
Location
Welwyn Garden City, England, United Kingdom
Employment TypeFull-time
Posted At4/13/2026
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Analytics are greyed out due to low classification confidence (45.0%).
Occupation Type
Quality assurance and regulatory professionals
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£48,200
(£24.72 per hour)
Occupation rate applies
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Description
- Practical application of regulatory compliance .
- Influencing skills and success in developing good relations in complex environments
- Ability to work independently to deliver a programme of work in line with a work plan, providing assurance to your manager.
- Work with partner organisations to address joint initiatives and regulatory duties.
- Taking initiative and using a continuous improvement approach.
- Degree (or equivalent) ideally in a science or engineering subject or comparable external industrial experience.
- Full UK driving licence
- People development experience through coaching and mentoring.
- Membership of a relevant professional institution or working towards.
- Be familiar with environmental management systems, auditing and root cause analysis.
- Experience of interpreting environmental monitoring and performance data.
Are you ready to make a real difference? Join our High Hazard specialist team as a Senior Regulatory Officer.
We’re committed to improving our regulatory practices and framework. To achieve this, we’re looking for Senior Regulatory Officers to provide quality regulation at COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) sites across England.
This role is for a locally recognised expert, responsible for delivering COMAH compliance activities while managing significant environmental and reputational risk. You’ll work across high-hazard industries, collaborating with internal networks, partner organisations, and Competent Authority partners to ensure a consistent regulatory approach.
The role involves leading regulation of complex and nationally significant COMAH sites, assessing operators’ ability to prevent major accidents and protect the environment. You’ll lead site inspections, investigations and enforcement action for serious environmental incidents, alongside resolving complex technical and reputational issues.
Strong influencing and negotiation skills are essential, as you’ll regularly engage with senior industry leaders, communities and stakeholders.
You’ll provide expert input into investigations, work with partner organisations in our role as the Competent Authority and help shape COMAH regulatory strategy and delivery at a local level. Alongside strategic responsibilities, you will assist in planning and delivery of your team’s COMAH work programme across multiple areas.
You will be seen as a technical leader in your team therefore have a role in overseeing performance, managing quality and workload, developing less experienced staff, and contributing to workforce planning, and training to strengthen COMAH regulation.
This role attracts an additional allowance of £4,750 for specialist expertise in COMAH regulation. It is payable after appointment, provided you meet eligibility criteria. To qualify, you’ll need significant COMAH or high-hazard industry experience and a relevant degree or equivalent technical expertise.
Please read the additional information pack for further details about the responsibilities of the role.
The team
You’ll be part of a new team reporting to a COMAH Team Leader, working with Principal Regulatory Officers and Regulatory Officers.
You’ll work directly with site operators, while collaborating with national and local colleagues to improve COMAH delivery and assurance. Your team will deliver their regulatory plan by carrying out robust inspections, audits and investigating incidents.
You’ll have an office base location, but the role requires regular travel for site visits and fieldwork.
Experience/skills Required
Essential Criteria
You’ll have an EA Office base location, but your team will be dispersed. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, but this role requires site inspections and fieldwork so travel is expected and overnights may be required.
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams towards the end of May. The interview format will comprise of competency questions and a technical assessment.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check for these roles.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Please read the Additional Information Pack for further information.
Any queries, contact: regulationresourcing@environment-agency.gov.uk
Competence 1
Legislative Knowledge
Description
You’ll be part of a new team reporting to a COMAH Team Leader, working with Principal Regulatory Officers and Regulatory Officers.
You’ll work directly with site operators, while collaborating with national and local colleagues to improve COMAH delivery and assurance. Your team will deliver their regulatory plan by carrying out robust inspections, audits and investigating incidents.
You’ll have an office base location, but the role requires regular travel for site visits and fieldwork.
Experience/skills Required
Essential Criteria
- Knowledge of the COMAH regime and/or industrial experience across a range of chemical and/or energy industries.
- Practical application of regulatory compliance.
- Influencing skills and success in developing good relations in complex environments
- Ability to work independently to deliver a programme of work in line with a work plan, providing assurance to your manager.
- Work with partner organisations to address joint initiatives and regulatory duties.
- Taking initiative and using a continuous improvement approach.
- Degree (or equivalent) ideally in a science or engineering subject or comparable external industrial experience.
- Full UK driving licence
- People development experience through coaching and mentoring.
- Membership of a relevant professional institution or working towards.
- Be familiar with environmental management systems, auditing and root cause analysis.
- Experience of interpreting environmental monitoring and performance data.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, but your team will be dispersed. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, but this role requires site inspections and fieldwork so travel is expected and overnights may be required.
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams towards the end of May. The interview format will comprise of competency questions and a technical assessment.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check for these roles.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Please read the Additional Information Pack for further information.
Any queries, contact: regulationresourcing@environment-agency.gov.uk
Competence 1
Legislative Knowledge
Description
Description: Applies a knowledge of statutory environmental and technical requirements to protect both the Environment Agency and the environment.
Question: This role requires knowledge and practical application of the COMAH regime and a relevant scientific or engineering degree (or equivalent experience). Please explain how your background demonstrates these requirements.
Competence 2
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Give an example where you successfully influenced others to make an important improvement in compliance, safety or environmental performance.
Competence 3
Achieves Results
Description
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
Question: Tell us about a time you applied your knowledge of legislation or guidance to resolve a compliance or environmental issue.
Competence 4
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
Question: Tell us about a decision you made in relation to a compliance, safety or environmental issue that required careful thought and analysis.
Role specific license requirements
Full UK Driving Licence
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Question: This role requires knowledge and practical application of the COMAH regime and a relevant scientific or engineering degree (or equivalent experience). Please explain how your background demonstrates these requirements.
Competence 2
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Give an example where you successfully influenced others to make an important improvement in compliance, safety or environmental performance.
Competence 3
Achieves Results
Description
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets.
Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results
Question: Tell us about a time you applied your knowledge of legislation or guidance to resolve a compliance or environmental issue.
Competence 4
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.
Question: Tell us about a decision you made in relation to a compliance, safety or environmental issue that required careful thought and analysis.
Role specific license requirements
Full UK Driving Licence
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.