Number of jobs available: 2
Region: East Midlands, National, South East, West Midlands
City/Town: Various
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Operational Delivery
Working Pattern: Full Time
Salary Minimum: £41,617
Closing Date: 05/02/2025, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 30257.docx – 59KB
Converted File Job Profile – 30257.docx.pdf – 84KB
Job description attachment 2
E&B Additional Information Pack.pdf – 1853KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 30257.docx – 2045KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 30257.docx.pdf – 717KB
Security checks level: Basic Check
Job description
At the Environment Agency, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive workforce where diversity thrives. We embrace equal opportunities and flexible working arrangements, ensuring everyone can contribute meaningfully and achieve their potential. This is your chance to influence and improve environmental performance of water companies. We are looking for individuals with a good understanding of the industry and its impact on the environment to join our national Operations Catchment Services department and be at the heart of our liaison with water companies.
Our teams are responsible for driving national operational work with water companies and hold a comprehensive overview of their environmental performance across all activities and strategic plans to influence improvements and future investment at a senior level. We have opportunities in teams covering the Southeast and Midlands.
Working with internal teams and water companies, to regulate and report on water company performance. Influencing water company future planning through Ofwat’s price review process, water resources management plans, drainage and wastewater management plans and pollution incident reduction plans.
You’ll be responsible for:
- Working with and bringing together operational colleagues as part of a virtual team to influence and improve water company performance and investment
- Support development of water company specific control strategies
- Tracking water company delivery, such as Water Industry National Environment Programme
- Reporting water company performance and supporting senior engagement with water companies through briefings
- Working closely with colleagues across the business to support policy development and environmental objectives
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You’ll 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 your incident role.
The team
The Southeast and Midland teams are water company facing. We work with colleagues involved in water planning and performance across the business. As part of Operations Catchment Service national-once department we use evidence, expertise, collaboration and innovation to work with water companies. You’ll join account management, which holds an overview of environmental performance and strategic plans to influence improvements and future investment. We’re a friendly, dispersed team that use smart tools to stay connected.
Experience/skills required
We are looking for candidates with either a degree in an environmental discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
You will need to be highly organised with skills in environmental planning and regulation.
You must build strong working relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders.
Through experience to date you should be able to demonstrate the following:
- Knowledge and practical experience of water company regulation and/or planning
- Strong written and spoken communication skills
- Influencing skills to help persuade internal and external partners
- Highly organised and able to manage complex activities
- Ability to influence across a range of senior managers
- Ability to manage and present data and information effectively
- Knowledge of the environmental pressures impacting on the water environment
You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided.
Interviews to take place via MS teams mid February.
Contact and additional information
We are committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve.
We offer an extensive range of employee benefits and the opportunity to progress your career with us via professional training routes such as apprenticeships and degree programmes.
Your answers to the competencies will be used for interview selection.
We welcome flexible working but you will need to be comfortable working virtually via MS teams with a mix of home and office working. Some travel and overnight stays may be required.
Southeast– Reading, Wallingford, Worthing, Romsey, Chichester, Welwyn Garden City and Farnham
Midlands- Based near or within easy access of water companies the team covers: Anglian, Severn Trent and South Staff/Cambridge Water.
For questions relating to this role, please email OCSAdmin@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Competence 1: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Competency 1: Influences and Persuades Others
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
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.
Please provide your proudest professional achievement to date as a result of influencing and persuading someone.
Competence 2: Communicates Effectively
Description
Competency 2: Communicates Effectively
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
Whilst working with an external partner or customer, please describe how you have tailored your communication style to meet the requirements of a specific individual or situation.
Competence 3: Achieves Results
Description
Competency 3: Achieves Results
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
Describe how you prioritise and manage your workload to ensure delivery when you have multiple competing demands
Competence 4: Business knowledge and communication environment
Description
Competency 4: Business of the Environment Agency
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Working with water companies and driving improvements in performance
Describe your experience and skills of the regulatory and planning framework for the water industry. Explain your key skills for this role
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.