Local recruitment: Technical Specialist Hydrogeology

Environment Agency

Reading, UK 🇬🇧

Wallingford, UK 🇬🇧

Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South East
City/Town: Reading , Wallingford
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time
Salary Minimum: £41,617
Closing Date: 20/08/2025, 23:55 hours

Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 31595.pdf – 249KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 31595.docx – 2040KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 31595.docx.pdf – 718KB
Security checks level: Basic Check

Job description

We are looking for a hydrogeologist who will provide specialist technical expertise and knowledge to lead on the effective management and protection of groundwater resources of Thames Area. You will use your professional judgement and decision-making when exposed to technically challenging operational decisions and environmental regulation, working with both internal and external stakeholders.

You will be responsible for:

  • managing large, challenging projects which impact on sustainable water use
  • leading and developing delivery of Thames area hydrogeology work and project work
  • undertaking analysis and determination of complex hydrogeological problems
  • building technical resilience through coaching and mentoring 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. Alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

It’s our ambition to champion diversity through building a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all regardless of race, sex, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity or marital status.

The team

The team is responsible for working on some of the most challenging environmental issues within water resources and providing workable solutions. Our area is heavily dependent upon groundwater, and you will play a critical role in safeguarding and improving this important resource. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job-share, so please include any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

Experience/skills required

We are looking for:

  • Honours degree (or equivalent), and ideally a MSc level qualification (or equivalent), in geology / hydrogeology or relevant equivalent discipline.
  • Highly experienced and technically competent professional with extensive understanding of hydrogeology and water resources.
  • You will be able to communicate across a wide network of audiences, having the skills to turn technical detail into compelling argument for the respective audience.
  • Ability to deliver results through others by managing talent, coaching, and mentoring
  • Be a champion for innovation and best practice to add value and to achieve more for the environment

Contact and additional information

Role location is flexible but occasional travel to the Reading and Wallingford Office will be required. To discuss this role, please contact: Antonia Shakerley – Antonia.shakerley@environment-agency.gov.uk or Nicola Geppert – Nicola.geppert@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Interviews are likely to take place in September. The Environment Agency at this time, do not prohibit the use of AI when completing applications when used as a form of technological assistance. This is deemed to be equivalent to pre-existing spelling and grammar checkers. Uses of AI must however be applied by candidates without providing false information or misrepresenting work history, experiences, skills or competency answers.

Your answers to the capability questions will be used to establish interview selection. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Competence 1: Multi-dimensional Conceptualisation
Description
Collects and visualises information in three or four dimensions in order to gain a greater understanding of the information (ie three spatial dimensions plus time).

Describe an occasion when you have worked with a conceptualisation you have developed in four dimensions to draw robust and defensible conclusions. How did you deal with complexity, variability and take account of uncertainty?

Competence 2: Focuses on Customers and Partners
Description
Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions. In this role you will work with range of stakeholders both internal Environment Agency colleagues as well as external partner organisations so experience of being able to address and respond to customers’ requirements will be essential.

Please give an example of when you have responded to a customer’s query or request and how you provided a Rapid and Effective response.

Competence 3: 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.

Tell us about how you have taken information from a variety of sources in order to solve a difficult technical problem successfully?

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.

7 days remaining

Apply by 20 August, 2025

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EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development