Number of jobs available: 1
Region: East of England, London, South East
City/Town: Welwyn Garden City
Building/Site: DEFRA GRP EA ALCHEMY, AL7 1HE
Grade: Staff Grade 5
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Operational Delivery, Science
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Salary Minimum: £43,198
Closing Date: 10/11/2025, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 32198.pdf – 65KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 32198.docx – 2043KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 32198.docx.pdf – 720KB
Security checks level: Basic Check
Job description
Join the Environment Agency and help us protect our environment while preserving it for future generations.
We’re on a mission to create lasting change for people’s lives across every corner of society. We believe having an inclusive workforce is essential in representing the communities we serve, and this role provides just that!
The Integrated Environment Planning team has a pivotal role in collating, analysing and sharing data to produce evidence that informs and drives area priorities. The team includes Specialists and Officers who focus on water resources, water quality and Water Framework Directive activities. We drive the Area’s work on Water Company planning for both Water Quality and Water Resources.
As a Water Resources Planning Specialist, this is an opportunity to have a long-term influence on our water environment, as well as the communities, plants and animals that depend on it. It’s also a chance to impact the way businesses invest and operate in the water industry, by balancing the needs of the economy with the requirements of diverse ecosystems.
You will support the delivery of projects and investigations related to Water Company Water Resources activities. For example:
- Investigations into potentially unsustainable abstractions
- Working with water companies to implement environmental improvement schemes
- Assessing flood risk implications of water company projects
Our projects usually involve:
- organising internal project teams to provide technical advice to water companies.
- managing the relationship with water companies and local interest groups to achieve the best environmental outcome.
- building productive and influential relationships with external partners
- using your technical understanding and judgement to scrutinise the methodology and outcomes of investigations.
It doesn’t just stop there though; you will be involved in incident response, given comprehensive training sessions tailored towards preparation for on-site/hybrid support during these important events.
The team
Our team in Herts and North London (HNL) work with area and national colleagues and we collate, analyse and share data to produce environmental evidence. This informs and drives our area priorities, maximising benefits for people and the natural environment.
HNL is an exciting area to work in – we have chalk rivers, multiple nationally significant infrastructure sites, and diverse communities to serve.
Experience/skills required
What do I need?
- A degree in a relevant subject or relevant experience in the environment sector
- Good knowledge of water resources issues.
- self-starter who can deliver key project tasks
- The ability to run a technical (virtual) team
- Very good written and verbal communication skills
- An established record of practical problem solving
- The ability to think through challenges unsupervised and as part of a team
Contact and additional information
The role will be based in our Welwyn Garden City office, although we currently work flexibly with a mixture of office and home working.
At the Environment Agency, we go above and beyond when it comes to diversity—we seek out new perspectives, welcome different experiences and promote inclusivity both within our staff team as well as wider communities.
Check out our Candidate Pack for more information about this amazing opportunity today!
For further information please contact Rob Fox (Rob.Fox@environment-agency.gov.uk)
Interviews are expected to be held in person late November/early December at our Alchemy Office in Hertfordshire.
Competence 1: Communicates Effectively
Description
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
Question: Give an example of a time when you have had to communicate complex information or data effectively with a range of stakeholders.
Competence 2: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
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: Describe a time when you had to persuade others to support an idea or way of working that they were initially opposed to.
What approach did you take, and what was the result?
Competence 3: 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.
Question: Give an example of a time when you encountered major obstacles in achieving a goal. What did you do to overcome them?
Competence 4: 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.
Question: Tell us about a time when you have had to co-ordinate information or data from a variety of sources in order to solve a difficult technical problem.
We encourage you to refer to our “EA capability dictionary” which can be viewed by searching online using any web browser. You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your responses to these questions.
Role specific license requirements: A full UK driving Licence would be useful.
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.
