Number of jobs available: 1
Region: National
City/Town: Various
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Compressed Hours
Salary Minimum: £41,617
Closing Date: 29/07/2025, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 31398.docx – 58KB
Converted File Job Profile – 31398.docx.pdf – 85KB
Job description attachment 2
E&B Additional Information Pack.pdf – 1853KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 31398.docx – 2041KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 31398.docx.pdf – 718KB
Security checks level: Basic Check
Job description
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.
As part of the Operations Catchment Services (OCS) Water Resources & Strategic Planning Team, you will be at the heart of ensuring that OCS & Water Companies have robust & resilient strategic plans to ensure resilient water supplies for the future, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.
As part of this role, you will:
- Work alongside others in the team to ensure that OCS’s approach to strategic water resources planning is coordinated, efficient, informed and that our outputs showcase our technical excellence.
- Work with the water resources planning data lead to make sure the information we need is available at the right time to inform our assessments.
- Work with water company performance lead to ensure the Water Resources Management Plans (WRMP) and annual review programme aligns and complement each other.
- Actively lead/co-ordinate the WRMP programme for OCS WR and work closely with internal EA teams.
- Co-ordinate and support the team to ensure delivery of current and future WRMPs.
- Work with internal EA teams on the review, consultation and updates to future WRMP planning guidelines.
- Be flexible during peak workload times, undertaking tasks to deliver statutory duties linked to individual water companies.
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 workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
The role will sit within the National OCS Water Resources Team, providing support & guidance on our statutory Water Resource & Drought planning activity. You will work closely with the WR planning teams, Area & E&B teams, as well as Water Companies.
In E&B we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued. We use evidence, expertise, engagement, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation, and secure resources.
Experience/skills required
Excellent interpersonal & technical skills, the ability to achieve results, solve problems and make decisions, and communicate technical issues in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences.
Through your experience to date you will ideally be able to demonstrate:
- Experience with working with the Water Industry & Regulators.
- Self-Motivated and able to work on own initiative or as part of dispersed team
- Influence and persuade key stakeholders such as water companies
- Recent Knowledge & worked experience of Statutory Water Resource Planning
- Good planning & organisational skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales.
Please demonstrate your:
- ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work.
Please note the role will require some travel and occasional overnight stays.
Contact and additional information
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible / hybrid.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact SRowlett@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of the closing date.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
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: Tell us about a time when you have influenced or persuaded a senior colleague to change their actions to ensure you have achieved the outcome you needed.
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 data and 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: Give an example of when you have planned and delivered multiple pieces of technical work with similar deadlines, where delivery relied on others’ input as much as your own and what you did to achieve this?
Competence 4: Communicates Effectively
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: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately, and persuasively through speech and writing.
Question: Describe a time where you have communicated important and vital information to a technical audience to achieve a stated outcome or result?
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.
