Number of jobs available: 1
Region: North East
City/Town: Darlington , Newcastle
Building/Site: Tyneside House, Teesdale House
Grade: Staff Grade 4
Post Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full Time
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability, Science
Salary Minimum: £29,706 Pro-rata
Job description
We are looking for a hydrologist who can help us regulate the water environment of the North East area. Your role will be to analyse, interpret and report on hydrology data for internal and external customers. The work will focus on both low flows and high flows hydrology.
You will undertake water situation reporting, respond to information requests, and assess the hydrological impact of permit applications. You will contribute to water resources management including catchment abstraction management and the regulation of the Kielder transfer system. You will support environmental and flood incident response by providing hydrological data and analysis for decision making and situation awareness.
You will monitor hydrological data quality including an annual program of improvements and work with other teams to ensure an effective hydrometric monitoring network for flood and water resources management.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
You will sit within the groundwater, contaminated land and hydrology team based in Newcastle or Darlington. The team provides expert hydrological services and information to Environment Agency colleagues as well as to external customers. We work closely with colleagues in Hydrometry to improve our data quality and Water Resources to ensure appropriate management of activities. There are three other hydrologists including the technical specialist who will provide support to yourself alongside the team leader.
Experience/skills required
You’ll understand hydrology concepts and will be competent in the core hydrological skills of data analysis, problem solving, recognising, and reducing data uncertainty, and interpreting hydrological information. These skills will be supported by an understanding of catchment hydrological response across the full range of flows from droughts to floods.
You will be a capable user of standard rainfall, soil moisture, river level and river flow methods and tools. You will share your expertise with others including training new team members.
You’ll be expected to be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word. You’ll also be a confident communicator and be able to convey information and ideas clearly. You will deliver work to high standards and be able to prioritise and organise tasks to achieve results. You’ll have relevant work experience or a degree in hydrology, geography, environmental sciences or a related subject.
Contact and additional information
You will have some flexibility to work from home but must be able to attend the office in Newcastle or Darlington as required to a regular work pattern. You may occasionally be expected to travel for training opportunities. For further information contact Sophie.Siddle@environment-agency.gov.uk or Vicky.Crichton@environment-agency.gov.uk
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 27108.pdf – 130KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 27108.docx – 2038KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 27108.docx.pdf – 548KB
Closing Date: 30/07/2023, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required: Basic Check
Length of contract: Until 23.01.2025
Competence 1: Data and Information Management
Description
PLEASE NOTE: 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 answer.
The Environment Agency collects data from thousands of locations across England (rivers, rainfall and groundwater). It is the data management and analysis which enable us to maximise the value in this data for decision making. When have you had to manage and / or interpret large / complex datasets? How did you go about this and what were the outcomes?
Competence 2: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives, and taking sound and timely decisions.
PLEASE NOTE: 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 answer.
At the Environment Agency we make decisions based on environmental data which has uncertainty and can be missing in space or time (we do not measure every river). Tell us about a time you have had to solve problems or take decisions based on imperfect data. What process did you go through and what was the result?
Competence 3: Communicates Effectively
Description
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
PLEASE NOTE: 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 answer.
Hydrology is a technical discipline but often key decision makers do not have a hydrological background. Effective communication of hydrological analysis in terms that are understandable and unambiguous are important. Please describe a time where you had to adjust how you delivered your message to meet the needs of a particular audience.
Competence 4: Achieves Results
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.
PLEASE NOTE: 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 answer.
At the Environment Agency we are often having to balance competing priorities. When have you had to prioritise your workload based on competing priorities and how did you decide what was the most important task?
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.
