Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South West
City/Town: Blandford Forum , Bridgwater
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability, Operational Delivery, Project Delivery
Salary Minimum: £37,462
Job description
We are the Environment Agency. Working with Government, councils, businesses, and communities, we create a better place for people and wildlife. Acting to reduce the impacts of climate change is at the heart of everything we do.
We have an exciting opportunity for someone looking to further develop their career in water resources management and strategic planning in Wessex Area.
This position is key to achieving several important area work programmes to enable us to meet our local environmental ambitions for Wessex Area and contribute to our EA 25 Year Environment Plan (EA2025). You will work closely with colleagues across the Environment Agency to lead and manage specific aspects of our Water Resources Programme.
You will work with both National and Area colleagues to support the delivery and management of projects and work including water company water resource management plans and investment programmes, drought plans and sustainable abstraction.. You will lead our liaison with key customers such as Water Companies and abstractor sectors across our Area
As a Water Resource Specialist, you will:
- be jointly responsible for the local delivery of water resources service
- influence and support the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) and associated water company plans
- build and maintain productive and influential relationships with internal and external customers including water companies
- contribute to the coordination of dry weather/drought planning and response
- leadership and/or provide specialist advice to local and national working groups and projects
- provide specialist advice to senior managers facilitating resolution of complex or contentious issues.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and be available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. Full training will be provided.
The team
You’ll join a fantastic team of environment planners who focus predominantly on water quality, water resources and river basin planning activities. You’ll be part of a small committed and professional sub-team of water resource specialists using data and evidence to plan and prioritise the delivery of environmental outcomes across the area. We achieve our outcomes by working with specialist teams, to ensure we are focusing on the right activities to drive major investment from others.
Experience/skills required
Together with a relevant degree/equivalent experience you will have proven working experience in water resource planning.
You’ll be able to show how you use your strong communication skills, including the ability to translate technical issues into non-technical language, to effectively influence and persuade others to achieve common objectives.
You’ll have proven communication, influencing and networking skills.
You’ll be able to demonstrate how you take decisions and solve problems, working within a programme and project management framework.
You’ll have experience of using evidence and analysis to explore problems and propose effective and innovative solutions as you demonstrate your ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work.
It will be advantageous to have an understanding of the concept and context of Drought Plan Management and Water Resource planning at local and regional scale.
In this role you will demonstrate your awareness of environmental legislation and policies applicable to water resources management.
Contact and additional information
We support flexible working and practices to help you strike a good balance between your work life and your personal life. We will also encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career
The role can be based at either our Blandford or Bridgwater offices, and hybrid working arrangements are in place. As a dispersed team, there is an occasional need to travel.
We’re looking for applicants who believe that having a truly diverse, representative, and engaged workforce is fundamental to protect the environment and effectively serve our communities.
For more information about the role please contact Team Leader Rosanne Broome on 07887632061/ rosanne.broome@environment-agency.com.uk or Chris Greenwell on 07917068323/ christopher.greenwell@environment-agency.gov.uk
More information can be found in the candidate pack.
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 26832.docx – 55KB
Converted File Job Profile – 26832.docx.pdf – 64KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 26832.docx – 2038KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 26832.docx.pdf – 548KB
Closing Date: 12/07/2023, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required: Basic Check
Competence 1: Programme and Project Management
Description
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.
Being able to manage programmes of work and projects across other teams is a key requirement in this role – for example collating information/evidence and identifying projects that will influence significant water resources investment (WINEP).
Can you tell us how you would use project management techniques to co-ordinate and successfully run a complex water resources investigation?
Competence 2: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.
In this role you will be required to take decisions and solve problems as a matter of course – sometimes related to processes we use and sometimes in relation to technical data.
Tell us about how you have taken information from a variety of sources in order to solve a difficult technical problem successfully?
Competence 3: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.
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.
The work we do helps the Environment Agency and abstractors make decisions about water resources management. We impact the work of other teams and organisations some of whom may be at different tiers of seniority than ourselves. We need to be great influencers to get others to deliver based on our evidence.
Can you describe a time when you have successfully influenced key players to deliver to agreed deadlines and in the face of challenge?
Competence 4: Data and Information Management
Description
PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.
Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes. You’ll need to be able to collate data, evidence and intelligence, analyse and share data to produce environmental evidence that informs and drives area priorities.
Please give an example of when you have had to analyse, interpret and present data in an accessible format to help drive the delivery of an outcome or outcomes?
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.
