Local recruitment: Water Resources Officer

Environment Agency

Birmingham, UK 🇬🇧

Fradley, UK 🇬🇧

Shrewsbury, UK 🇬🇧

Tewkesbury, UK 🇬🇧

Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South West, West Midlands
City/Town: Birmingham , Fradley, Shrewsbury , Tewkesbury
Building/Site: DEFRA GRP EA AQUA HOUSE, B3 1AQ, DEFRA GRP EA HAFREN HOUSE, SY3 5LB, DEFRA GRP EA RIVERSMEET HOUSE, GL20 8JG, DEFRA GRP EA SENTINEL HOUSE, WS13 8RR
Grade: Staff Grade 4
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Administration / Corporate Support, Analytical, Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Salary Minimum: £34,320
Closing Date: 14/12/2025, 23:55 hours

Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 32380.docx – 59KB
Converted File Job Profile – 32380.docx.pdf – 89KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 32380.docx – 2045KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 32380.docx.pdf – 722KB
Security checks level: Basic Check

Job description

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 an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve and continue to develop diversity throughout our workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religion.

West Midland’s Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) team specialise in water resources, water quality, river basin planning and data analysis and visualisation. Working with a variety of stakeholders, including water companies, we shape and produce environmental plans that drive our area’s priorities.

Water is essential for drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health. Our environment and economy depend on this precious resource. The pressure on water resources from climate change and population growth means managing water abstractions has never been more important.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with good communication, and a strong background in data and information management. Supported by Water Resource Specialists, you will protect and improve the quantity of water available for wildlife, people and future generations by:

  • Advising on water resource licence applications, including abstraction and impoundments.
  • Responding to data and information requests.
  • Supporting delivery of projects and investigations related to abstraction activities.
  • Updating water resource assessments and abstraction licensing strategies.
  • Supporting Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) and associated water company plans
  • Supporting Area drought planning alongside the drought co-ordinator.
  • Providing technical administrative support to other team members.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role. This may attract an additional payment; full training and alternative working arrangements will be available.

The team

The Integrated Environment Planning team is at the centre of local environmental planning and regulation. We use evidence to better understand the pressures on the local environment and focus resources to improve things for wildlife and people. 

We are a diverse and friendly team at the heart of environmental decision making, facilitating integrated actions to solve complex problems.

Experience/skills required

Good organisational skills/discipline and the ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work.

Able to work under own initiative and as part of a larger, cross-functional/multidisciplinary team

Good research/analysis skills, supporting an ability to make proportionate, evidence-based inferences/proposals from information.

Experience of gathering, maintaining and quality-assuring data/information.

Sensitive to the needs of different customers and able to deliver outcomes through these.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Understanding, analysing and translating a variety of data and information into evidence that can be used to inform and influence decisions by technical and non-technical audiences, and support strategic planning activities.

Knowledge and experience in one or more of these subject areas would be highly desirable: hydrology, water resource management, Geographical Information Systems

Contact and additional information

The role will be based in any of the West Midlands offices, although we currently work flexibly with a mixture of office and home working.

The role will require some travel to our other local offices and Water Company Sites.

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.

Interviews will be held over MS Teams w/c 12th January.

For further information please contact ruth.meek@environment-agency.gov.uk

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role. This may attract an additional payment; full training and alternative working arrangements will be available.

Competence 1: Achieves Results
Description
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: Describe how you have delivered a busy workload successfully. How did you prioritise, what were the challenges, what were the results?

Competence 2: Data and Information Management
Description
Description
Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Question: Tell us about a project where you had to collect and manage large or complex datasets from multiple sources?

Competence 3: Communicates Effectively
Description
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: Please describe how you have tailored your communication style to meet the requirements of different stakeholders or customers on a piece of work?

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.

11 days remaining

Apply by 14 December, 2025

POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

IHE Delft - MSc in Water and Sustainable Development