Number of jobs available: 1
Region: East Midlands
City/Town: Brampton
Building/Site: DEFRA GRP EA BRAMPTON OFFICE, PE28 4NE
Grade: Staff Grade 4
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Operational Delivery
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Compressed Hours
Salary Minimum: £34,320
Closing Date: 30/03/2026, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
TSS04 Technical & Scientific Services, Grade 4
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 33312.docx – 2043KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 33312.docx.pdf – 720KB
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.
Did you know East Anglia is the driest part of the country and over half of our drinking water comes from groundwater. The area has significant population growth and intensive agricultural activities, so groundwater quantity and quality is under pressure.
Our role is to protect and enhance groundwater quality and quantity and you can help with that.
Working as part of a team you will be responding to customer consultations, both internal and external. You will be providing local groundwater information and advice on groundwater quality, sensitivity and risks. This is to help with general enquiries, groundwater discharge permitting (including pre application advice) and groundwater risk assessments of existing permitted sites.
With initial support from colleagues and suitable training, using the information we have available, you will interpret geology, groundwater quality and other information to provide a professional technical response.
This appointment is a fantastic opportunity to join the Environment Agency in a technical role and be part of an area groundwater team. The role is very flexible and we are happy to consider part time or full time applications.
The team
The East Anglia (West) Groundwater and Contaminated land team covers Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk and sits within Local Operations.
We’re based in either Brampton or Huntingdon
We provide specialist advice on:
Groundwater Quality (monitoring, improvement plans and groundwater discharge permits)
Contaminated Land (risk assessment and remediation, via planning consultations or statutory work)
We also give technical support to other regimes such as groundwater risk and Water Resources.
Experience/skills required
In your capability-based answers 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.
Essential
Relevant Scientific degree or equivalent
A depth of knowledge that enables working with and presenting technical and scientific evidence authoritatively.
Judgement / experience to tackle routine issues, seeking advice on more complex problems.
Desirable but not essential:
Hydrogeological Qualification
Professional Membership in a relevant area
Some understanding of incident management.
You’ll be willing to undertake specialist/or further training when necessary. The Agency is committed to supporting staff learning and development and Health, Safety & Wellbeing, through courses and experiences.
Everyone starting in a new role will be given all the training and support needed. As part of your induction, you’ll be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
Contact and additional information
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You’ll be required to have an incident management role, and further details can be found in the candidate pack.
You’ll be based in one of our Brampton Office with hybrid working options available.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Any queries, contact peopleprogramme@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams from the week commencing 27th April.
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: Communicates Effectively
Description
Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview.
Question: Give an example of when you have used data and information to support your communications.
- What were you communicating and who was your audience?
- How did you decide what to include or omit?
- What feedback did you receive from the audience/recipients?
- What did you learn from this?
Competence 2: 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: Tell us about your most significant achievement in your current/last role.
- Why were you particularly proud of this?
- What feedback did you receive from your manager/colleagues?
- What were your learning points and is there anything you would do differently if in a similar position in the future?
Competence 3: Environmental Awareness
Description
Description: Appreciates the impact that activities have on the environment and identifies ways to protect and preserve the environment for the future [and limit negative environmental impact]
Question: Why is it important that we protect groundwater from pollution? What human activity and land use pose a risk to groundwater quality in East Anglia and what are the chemicals of concern associated with these? How might these be controlled?
Competence 4: Focuses on Customers and Partners
Description
Description: Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.
Question: Describe a situation where your technical knowledge and wider environmental understanding enabled you to meet customer needs while also supporting environmental goals? How did you ensure both priorities were addressed effectively?
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.
