Assistant Environment Protection Officer (Compliance & Enforcement)

Job Description
Environment Resources Authority in Malta is looking to recruit an Assistant Environment Protection Officer (Compliance & Enforcement) (Definite contract/terms) to join their team on a full-time basis. 

Job details:  
In the role of AEPO (Compliance & Enforcement), the officer is responsible for the functions and deliverables under the area of responsibility in line with the aims and objectives of the Authority. The officer shall be responsible to support the overall operations within the Compliance and Enforcement Unit ensuring that the overall operations are carried out effectively in accordance with any applicable policies, and approved business plans and in liaison with the line superior in particular to:

• Monitor operations including sampling, testing, environmental inspections, and onsite investigations, to appropriate quality standards, in a scientifically valid manner and within set timeframes, and analyze, process, record, map and report it;
• Monitor and investigate ongoing development, operations, and activities;
• Compile, and/or map reports, photographs, and site histories, determine baseline and subsequent situations, and liaise with other officers from the Authority as directed to this effect;
• Assist in updating and preparing operational and other risk assessments, propose and implement inspection plans, help formulate targeting regimes and judiciously employ other investigative and compliance tools to maximize adherence with legislation and authorizations, and avoidance or mitigation of any adverse environmental impacts;
• Report act and provide guidance on adverse environmental impacts noticed during monitoring and compliance work;
• Inspect, vet, and check assessments, permit conditions, documents, authorization tags, and movement of goods;
• Coordinate with the responsible agencies the follow-up interventions and/or treatment of injured, beached, and/or stranded specimens of protected species as appropriate, in acceptable and agreed on manners, and facilitate the determination of the causes of any injury or death of said protected specimens and whether illegalities were involved;
• Assist in auditing monitoring reports, and applications and declarations for compliance certification;
• Promote compliance, inform, advise, discuss and negotiate with authorized environment operators and others who are potentially in breach of environmental requirements, to regularize positions;
• Assist in the development, assessment, reviewing, and implement as authorized, rigorous compliance, remediation, and contingency strategies on generic and particular cases;
• Assist and take necessary remedial measures and administer punitive steps such that any irregularity, illegality, or lack of compliance is prevented, halted, neutralized, removed, remediated, and not enjoyed;
• Conduct investigations and recommend/take appropriate actions;
• Issue and serve oral and/or written warnings, stop notices, or compliance orders;
• The issue, serve, and pursue administrative, daily, and other fines and out of court settlements, and provide recommendations concerning mechanisms and frameworks for such interventions;
• Contribute to taking of legal action and take compliance/enforcement-related actions covering concerns related to ERA legislation;
• Provide reports with recommendations on cases of potential dismissal of environmental applications;
• Liaise with border controls on monitoring, compliance, and enforcement issues, check incoming and outgoing goods and species, and enforce and legally pursue CITES, TFS, and other Authority obligations;
• Seize or block goods, participate in confiscation orders, assist in the confiscation of economic advantage, environmental liabilities, and cancellation or modification of environmental permits, and implement other enforcement tools.
• Participate in the commissioning and taking of direct action and assist by implementing remediation exercises, to remove or stop illegalities, infringements, and any operations and/or activities creating environmental damage, where necessary with the assistance of the police.
• Plan, monitor, lead, conduct, record, report, and assist in organizing and overseeing environmental survey work, monitoring, compliance, and enforcement operations in any part of the national territory, both terrestrial and marine as necessary.

Job entry requirements:

• A minimum Bachelor’s Degree [MQF Level 6] with a minimum total of 180 ECTS credits in Environmental Sciences/Studies/Assessment, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Criminology, Forensic Sciences, Geography, Planning, Architecture, Physics, Engineering or comparable qualification as recognized by NCFHE; or
• Alternatively in case of no First Degree, a Master’s Degree [MQF Level 7] with a minimum total of 90 ECTS credits in Environmental Sciences/Studies/Assessment, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Criminology, Forensic Sciences, Geography, Planning, Architecture, Physics, Engineering or comparable qualification as recognized by NCFHE.
• This particular job specification requires the candidate to be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in Maltese, therefore a minimum ‘O’ Level in Maltese is required.
• Valid driving license.
• Clean police conduct.

*In the case of foreign qualifications, a recognition certificate from NCFHE is to be submitted for the application to be taken into consideration.

*This post is regulated by Directive 14.

To apply:
Interested candidates are advised to submit their application, together with a detailed curriculum vitae and a copy of their qualifications.

Environment & Resources Authority:
The Environment and Resources Authority shall safeguard the environment to achieve a sustainable quality of life. As the national regulator on the environment, we shall also maintain consultation with stakeholders so as to promote and instill sound environmental management.