Job Description
The Environment Agency has a broad, varied remit to protect and enhance the environment, with a goal to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for people and wildlife. Water is at the heart of all we do, drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health, our environment and economy depends on this precious resource. Clean and available water is essential and as water becomes an increasingly scarce resource, we need to do more to ensure we protect it.
Water companies must invest billions of pounds over the next five years to protect the environment from pollution. This scale of investment has not been seen for more than a generation. We need your knowledge and experience to help advise water companies on their plans and hold them to account for their protection of the water environment. Come be a part of the teams that ensure our environment is protected now and for future generations.
What will you do:
You will work alongside Water Quality Officers to establish and embed Bathing Waters work in our teams and support the Operational community of practice to fulfil its responsibilities. This includes tasks such as the assessment of Water Company proposals to meet bathing water standards and the development of innovative methods to achieve this. You will work closely with teams from the Environment Agency, such as Local Area Integrated Environmental Planning and National Water Quality Guidance Teams. You will also engage with water companies and other external stakeholders to achieve outcomes for Bathing Waters.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role, making yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. Training is available to support you with your incident role. This may attract an additional payment.
The team
Operations Catchment Services works to secure outcomes across key stakeholders, influencing significant investment in the water environment. This post will be part of the OCS Water Quality team. We take a one business approach, working closely with colleagues across the organisation.
We are a dispersed team, meeting face to face when the need arises. This allows us to be flexible on location for the role. Training and mentoring support will be provided.
Essential
Experience/skills required
- Knowledge of water quality planning, bathing water regulations, an understanding of the water industry and price review processes. Excellent communication and networking skills, as you will work with a range of Environment Agency colleagues and external stakeholders.
- The ability to analyse technical information
- Experience of presenting technical information to a wide audience.
- Organisational skills and the ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work, meeting relevant standards and timescales.
- Work experience in an environmental discipline – for example but not limited to - Water companies, Environmental consultancies, regulatory roles, research and education and Environmental charities.
Desirable
- Degree or postgraduate qualification in an environmental discipline – for example, but not limited to – Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Ecology, Environmental science, Sustainability, Data science and analytics.
- Experience in water quality modelling.
Contact and additional information
You will be working as part of a dispersed team and expected to travel for national meetings with occasional overnight stays.
We aim to create and maintain a diverse workforce that reflects the UK’s economically active population. Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), disabled, female and LGBT+ candidates who are under-represented across our workforce. We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working patterns, including part time and job share.
If you have any questions regarding the vacancy or application process, please contact the recruiting manager dave.sanderson@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews will be held using MS Teams and will involve competency-based questions. For information on these competencies please see the Environment Agency capability dictionary: https://en.calameo.com/books/004433680aab41adf893b
Competence 1
Data and Information Management
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.
Provide an example of when you have managed technical data (e.g. analysis, interpretation) to make an informed decision or produce a report.
- What was the technical nature of the data?
- How did you sort the relevant from the irrelevant data?
- How did you organise your report to convey the information in the best way?
- How was the data stored for future reference?
- How would you approach a similar situation now?
Please use the STAR approach when formulating your response.
Competence 2
Communicates Effectively
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing. Understands the needs of both the technical and management audience.
Working with a wide range of customers - with varying levels of technical knowledge - requires the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately. You will need to communicate and engage with others effectively through speech and writing.
Please describe when you have used your communication skills effectively to convey technical information and ideas clearly to others.
- What was the subject matter?
- What method of communication did you use?
- How did you go about making sure that your message was understood by all recipients? (How did you check their understanding?)
- What was the result?
- What would you change next time?
Please use the STAR approach when formulating your response.
Competence 3
Works in Teams
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Works co-operatively as part of a team to achieve common goals, especially as part of a dispersed team.
Provide an example of how you have worked either within your own team or with other teams to achieve a common goal. What was the role you played and how did working co-operatively improve the outcome?
- What did the team accomplish that an individual could not?
- What was your role and personal contribution?
- What elements contributed to the success?
- Why was it successful?
- How would you replicate this in a nationally dispersed team?
Please use the STAR approach when formulating your response.
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.
