Number of jobs available: 1
Region: National
City/Town: All
Building/Site: Various
Grade: Staff Grade 6
Post Type: Permanent
Role Type: Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern: Full Time
Salary Minimum: £54,940
Closing Date: 07/06/2026, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
AS06 Job Family Role Profile Advise & Shape, Grade 6
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 34399.docx – 6580KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 34399.docx.pdf – 2180KB
Security checks level: Basic Check
Job description
We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. 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.
Do you want your expertise in hydrogeology to protect and improve water quality for millions of people and the environment? We’re looking for a Senior Advisor to provide national leadership on groundwater quality, shaping how England manages one of its most vital natural assets.
In this high‑impact, strategic role, you’ll be at the heart of setting the Environment Agency’s technical direction on protecting and improving groundwater quality. You’ll influence national policy, guide major programmes, and provide expert advice on complex issues such as, diffuse pollution, emerging pollutants, and climate change impacts on groundwater. Your insight will help drive evidence‑led decisions that protect ecosystems, support sustainable abstraction, and safeguard drinking water supplies.
Working across the organisation and with external partners, you’ll translate cutting‑edge science into practical regulation and guidance. You’ll mentor and support technical specialists, set standards and best practice, and represent the Environment Agency at a national level, including with government, industry, and the research community.
We’re looking for someone with deep technical expertise in hydrogeology and groundwater quality, a strong understanding of regulatory and environmental pressures, and the credibility to lead and influence at senior levels. Just as important is your ability to communicate complex science clearly, think strategically, and inspire confidence in others.
If you’re motivated by purpose, excited by complexity, and ready to shape the future of water quality across the country, this is your opportunity to make a lasting difference.
The team
You’ll join our Groundwater Team. We’re a dispersed team and work with a wide range of technical and project teams across the country.
We’re part of the Environment and Business (E&B) Directorate. We inform and deliver the government’s key environmental objectives; using evidence, expertise, engagement, and innovation we influence policy and legislation, facilitate, and enhance integrated delivery and, by building trust in the Environment Agency, secure resources to do more for the environment.
Experience/skills required
You will be:
Enthusiastic and credible: As a senior groundwater specialist, you’ll need to be a passionate and authoritative groundwater advocate.
Proactive, self-motivated and a sure communicator
An effective influencer, with an adaptive style, who can manage relationships successfully to create collective outcomes.
You will need:
significant industry or regulatory experience as a groundwater quality specialist
technical skills in hydrogeology: e.g., constructing and interpreting conceptual models, hydrogeological risk assessment, groundwater chemistry / quality, and contaminant transport in the sub-surface environment.
an honours degree (or equivalent), and ideally a MSc level qualification (or equivalent), in geology / hydrogeology or relevant equivalent discipline
a detailed knowledge of relevant groundwater legislation and practical experience in its implementation.
Chartership, or a commitment towards working for chartership, is very desirable.
You’ll be asked to give a 10-minute presentation (title to be provided) as part of your interview.
Contact and additional information
You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll support you to find an incident role to suit your needs and circumstances. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Please see Candidate / Additional Information Pack for more information. Any queries, contact Kirsty.Darby@environment-agency.gov.uk or Kirsten.johnstone@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams within one month of the closing date.
With your consent, we’ll hold your details for 6 months on a reserve list and may offer you an alternative post.
Competence 1: Scientific Knowledge
Description
Explain how your qualifications and experience provide you with the necessary scientific and/or technical knowledge to perform this role and how you develop and maintain your technical knowledge.
Competence 2: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Tell us about a time, within a groundwater regulatory framework, when you have successfully affected, shaped or transformed the opinions of others, which led to a subsequent change in their behaviours and actions. How did you structure your engagement? What was the outcome?
Competence 3: Legislative Knowledge
Description
Within a regulatory setting for groundwater, tell us about a time when you have used legislation to bring about a significant positive benefit to the environment. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
Competence 4: Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Description
Describe a time when you identified an opportunity to improve a process or method that delivered a positive environmental outcome for water, explaining how you enhanced efficiency or innovation while maintaining data quality and technical accuracy.
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.
