Number of jobs available: 1
Region: South East
City/Town: Reading , Wallingford
Building/Site: Various
Grade: Staff Grade 4
Post Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
Role Type: Operational Delivery
Salary Minimum: £29,706
Job description
We need you to help us to investigate, regulate and improve the water environment in our areas. Your role will be to analyse, interpret and report on hydrology data for internal and external customers. We analyse and report on the full range of hydrology from droughts to flood activities. Your work will include producing water situation reports, quality assurance of river flow data and technical assessments of the impact of water abstractions on river flows. These assessments include Water Framework Directive Investigations, Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies, and determining water resources licences. You’ll work closely with your Hydrology team members and with internal and external customers and partners.
Your work will make a real difference to the environment and contribute to our EA2025 plan including incident response, understanding the state of the water environment, and providing evidence to drive regulation of the water industry, business, and agricultural sectors. You will also have exciting opportunities to grow with our wider ambitions around natural capital, plastic waste, carbon reduction and biodiversity net gain. Join us as a Hydrologist and you’ll play an important role in ensuring that future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier environment.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents, or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
The Team provides technical expertise and advice on a range of water resource management projects including no deterioration of water courses under the Water Framework Directive, Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies, the Water Industry National Environment Programme, water company water resource management plans, drought plans and determining water resources licences.
Experience/skills required
You’ll have a degree (or equivalent relevant experience) in a subject related to hydrology such as geography, environmental sciences, or geology. You’ll have a good understanding of hydrology concepts, data, and techniques. Alongside this you’ll have experience of the analysis and interpretation of environmental data and information to inform decision making and problem solving. You’ll be expected to be proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word along with ArcGIS. As a good communicator you will be able to convey information and ideas easily to a range of audiences. You will deliver work to high standards and be able to prioritise and organise tasks to meet targets and deadlines.
Contact and additional information
The Environment Agency 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.
Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
We offer an extensive range of employee benefits and the opportunity to progress your career with us via professional training routes such as apprenticeships and degree programmes.
For questions relating to this role, please contact eatalent@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews are due to be held in March 2023.
Job description attachment 1
Job Profile – 25130.docx – 58KB
Converted File Job Profile – 25130.docx.pdf – 63KB
Candidate pack
Candidate Pack – 25130.docx – 1866KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 25130.docx.pdf – 513KB
Closing Date: 27/02/2023, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required: Basic Check
Competence 1: 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.
Can you describe a time where you have worked with others on a challenging project or piece of work and explain what the challenges were?
• How did you respond to the difficulties?
• Who were you working with? Did everyone deliver? If not why?
• What standards did you achieve?
• How did you monitor progress?
• What did you learn? Would you do anything different if in a similar position in the future?
Competence 2: Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Description
Identifies and seizes the opportunity to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods, processes and without, compromising quality or accuracy.
We are looking for people who champion working in smarter more focused ways.
Can you describe a time where you have actively sought an opportunity to make an improvement in an area of your work?
Further questions:
• How did you identify the need for improvement and why did you suggest the change?
• What approach did you take in getting this enhancement approved and implemented?
• What feedback did you receive from those involved and how did you take them on board?
• How successful was the change?
• What did you learn?
• How do you deal with mistakes made by people who are trying to work differently?
• How do you support people who find change difficult?
Competence 3: Data and Information Management
Description
Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.
Give an example of a time when you have used data to identify issues and make decisions?
Further questions:
• What was the issue?
• What did you gather from the data?
• How did you use this to inform your decision?
• What were the main challenges and how did you overcome them?
• What was the outcome?
• What did you learn and is there anything you would do differently if in a similar position in the future?
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.
