AFBI - Scientific Officer

REF: IRC319568
DEPARTMENT: Department for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) - Environment, Marine and Fisheries Group, Northern Ireland Environment Agency
LOCATION: Throughout Northern Ireland

Open Date: N/A
Close Date: 07 November 2025

For more detailed information, including the duties and responsibilities of the post, and the criteria to be used during the recruitment and selection process, please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet.

In order to apply for this position, please click on the "Apply for this job online" link below to register to this vacancy and to submit an online application.

Completed application forms must be submitted no later than 12:00 noon (UK time) on Friday 7th November 2025.

Applications from Protestants, 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.

As part of our commitment to equality of opportunity we offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) for disabled applicants. Further information can be found in the Candidate Information Booklet.

All queries can be directed to HRConnect by: (contact information)

Responsibilities

• Preparing and undertaking sampling, scientific surveys; fieldwork and laboratory work on a range of materials and products.
• Mapping, recording, and monitoring environmental data.
• Conducting and designing relevant laboratory studies and/or species identification in support of monitoring and assessment programmes of natural heritage, marine and transitional waters and freshwater sites.
• Utilisation and management of scientific data and records and preparing data to support reporting, modelling, statistical and other analytical processes.
• Preparation of scientific and casework reports, management plans, and technical reviews to enable appropriate courses of action to support good environmental outcomes.
• Provision of evidence-based scientific advice and guidance to colleagues, customers and stakeholders.
• Undertaking investigations and assessments of environmental impacts.
• Technical review and assessment of environmental data, including risk assessments, and investigations to ensure public health protection.
• Determining applications for licences, permits, consents/assents, permissions or other registrations.
• Supporting third parties to undertake environmental management.
• Implementing the requirements of environmental legislation and conducting a broad range of regulatory activity, including investigation of non-compliance and taking appropriate enforcement action to protect the environment, which may include providing witness and scientific evidence to Tribunals, Planning & Water Appeals Commissions and in the Courts.
• Developing close working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Actively contributing to planning, allocating and conducting work to meet the objectives of the division's business plan and unit-level objectives.
• Teaching laboratory skills and techniques on agri-food education programmes.
• Actively contributing to a Health and Safety culture by maintaining awareness of the business area's risk assessments to ensure personal adherence to safe working practices and compliance with prevailing policies and standards.

Further Information

Further appointments may be made from this competition should NICS positions become vacant which require the same eligibility criteria and have similar duties and responsibilities.

Note: The post holder's main responsibilities will be dependent on the work area they are assigned to and may include some of the following responsibilities in relation to habitats, species, geodiversity, land and seascapes, recreation in the countryside, water quality and quantity, water pollution, air quality and/or waste management, Agri-food education or other natural sciences.