Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South East
City/Town: London, Reading , Sevenoaks , Welwyn Garden City , West Malling , Worthing
Building/Site: Tonbridge Office, Guildbourne House, Kings Meadow House, Various, Alchemy, Bessemer Road, AL7 1HE, Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Grade: Staff Grade 6
Post Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full Time
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability
Salary Minimum: £47,646 Pro-rata
Job description
It’s a fantastic time to work for the Environment Agency as we the tackle the climate and nature emergency. As part of the Operations Catchment Services (OCS) water resources strategic planning team, you will be at the heart of ensuring that water companies and regional groups have robust and compliant plans to ensure resilient water supplies for the future, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.
You will provide technical leadership on the strategic water resource planning issues in the Southeast and nationally, influencing and providing advice and expertise into the development of water company statutory plans and regional plans. Furthermore, you will provide coaching, mentoring and technical steer to our water resources planners.
In addition, you will:
• Shape national approaches to water resources planning, working alongside other G6 water resources leads
• Provide strategic advice and technical support to the water companies in the Southeast
• Work alongside the EA regional lead to advice the Southeast Water Resources group
• Provide active risk management and decision making ensuring effective, efficient delivery of the WR work programme across the country
• Be aware of the issues facing water resources in England, specifically for the Southeast geography.
The team
The role sits in the South East Water Resources Team within OCS, providing specialist technical WR planning expertise at water company and regional scale to maintain environmental performance within OCS and to the wider business.
Experience/skills required
Your excellent technical skills will be complimented by your ability to achieve results, solve problems, and communicate technical issues in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences.
You will ideally be able to demonstrate the following:
• Political awareness and sensitivity
• Influence and persuade key stakeholders such as water companies
• Expertise in a WR technical discipline with an understanding of WR planning techniques and awareness of new methods in development such as natural capital accounting
• Excellent communication skills, experience of managing and mitigating risks
• Ability to work across OCS, E&B and Area teams for a joined up and nationally consistent approach
• Coaching and mentoring of WR planners across the OCS WR community
• CIWEM chartership or working towards chartership
• Excellent judgement, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent planning skills, an ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales.
Contact and additional information
This role is for 12 months maternity cover from April 2023-April 2024. For further information contact the team leader Sam Bunce samantha.bunce@environment-agency.gov.uk or current post holder Sarah Wardell sarah.wardell@environment-agency.gov.uk Applications close on 12th March. Interviews will be held remotely from Wednesday 22nd – Friday 31st March.
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 25839.pdf – 221KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 25839.docx – 1868KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 25839.docx.pdf – 513KB
Closing Date: 12/03/2023, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required: Basic Check
Length of contract: Up to 30/04/2024
Competence 1: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: 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: Describe a time when you have successfully persuaded a key stakeholder to follow your advice on the direction of a major project or piece of work.
Competence 2: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition – Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions
Question: Describe a situation when you successfully resolved a technical issue and the steps you took to achieve this
Competence 3: Achieves Results
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: 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: Describe a time when you successfully delivered a complex major project or piece of work and what you did to achieve this
Competence 4: Strategic Environment Planning
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: Develops, delivers, and implements strategic plans for the sustainable use, protect and improvement of our environment. Understands current and future environmental pressures.
Question: Describe your understanding of the EA’s role in strategic water resources planning and the challenges facing the South East.
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.
