Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South East
City/Town: Reading , Wallingford
Building/Site: DEFRA GRP EA KINGS MEADOW HOUSE, RG1 8DQ, DEFRA GRP EA RED KITE HOUSE, OX10 8BD
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Salary Minimum: £43,198
Closing Date: 03/11/2025, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 32102.pdf – 177KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 32102.docx – 2043KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 32102.docx.pdf – 720KB
Security checks level: Basic Check
Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated team leader to lead and inspire the Groundwater Quality and Contaminated Land team in Thames area. The team also hosts the South East Groundwater Modelling unit and a Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment (NCEA) role. You will be working with a highly regarded team.
Our work includes providing expert advice to internal and external customers to support across environmental permitting and groundwater modelling. We respond to planning consultations, including high profile infrastructure developments and give risk-based technical and regulatory advice on land contamination sites.
In this role, you will have responsibility for a variety of work strands that support our water resources, and water management and regulation.
- Building and maintaining productive relationships with internal customers will be at the heart of your role.
- You will oversee, work planning, and recruitment whilst needing to be flexible and adaptable to changing work priorities.
- You will be responsible for the health, safety & wellbeing of your team by actively promoting awareness and ensuring the provision of safe working practices in line with Environment Agency policy.
- You will be a role model and promote inclusion by respecting differences in our workforce and build a supportive and engaging workplace.
You will also take an active role in the area for the Environment Agency’s Incident response. 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.
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 Groundwater Quality and Contaminated Land Team focuses on protecting and improving groundwater. The South East Groundwater Modelling Unit provides technical support to the Environment Agency Areas of Thames, Hertfordshire and North London, Kent, South London and East Sussex and Solent and South Downs. The NCEA role, supports the NCEA programme to improve understanding of our terrestrial and freshwater environment and monitor changes using better data, information, data integration and tools.
Experience/skills required
- A leader who is passionate about getting the best out of people, budgets and resources.
- Is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and self-motivated.
- Enjoys working with and leading a team and unafraid to give direction and feedback.
It would be helpful if you have experience of:
- Taking responsibility for the safety of yourself and for a team Leading and developing people.
- Delivering results through others by overseeing staff, develop, implement and coordinate technical support from the team.
- Create an environment that encourages creativity, innovation and improving efficiency, as well as supporting people through change.
- Working collaboratively across teams and departments.
- Managing budgets and contracts Follow processes and working with policy and legislation.
- Translating organisational outcomes into plans and programmes for frontline delivery, in an operational 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: Colin Chiverton at colin.chiverton@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews will take place at the start-middle of December.
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: Leads People
Description
Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency. You will be responsible for leading a team that will require great leadership to develop staff, prioritise work and set direction.
Please describe, using an example, your approach to leading and motivating people?
Competence 2: Delivers Results Through Others
Description
Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures. Harnessing others to deliver is key to the success of this role.
Please describe an important project or piece of work that you had to manage and lead your team to deliver for the organisation through challenging circumstances?
Competence 3: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
In this role, you will need to influence and work closely with internal colleagues across many areas and departments.
Tell us how you have influenced others with different agendas and drivers to deliver an outcome.
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.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
