Number of jobs available: 1
Region: National
City/Town: All
Building/Site: All
Grade: Staff Grade 6
Post Type: Fixed Term
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time
Role Type: Planning, Policy
Salary Minimum: £47,646 pro-rata
Job description
It’s a fantastic time to work for the Environment Agency as we the tackle the climate and nature emergency. As part of the Operations Catchment Services (OCS) water resources strategic planning team, you will be at the heart of ensuring that water companies and regional groups have robust and compliant plans to ensure resilient water supplies for the future, whilst protecting and enhancing the environment.
You will provide technical leadership on the strategic water resource planning issues in the South East and nationally, influencing and providing advice and expertise into the development of water company statutory plans and regional plans. Furthermore, you will provide coaching, mentoring and technical steer to our water resources planners.
In addition you will:
• Shape national approaches to water resources planning, working alongside other G6 water resources leads
• Provide strategic advice and technical support to the water companies in the South East
• Work alongside the EA regional lead role to the Water Resources in the South East group
• Provide active risk management and decision making ensuring effective, efficient delivery of the WR work programme across the country
• Be aware of the issues facing water resources in England, specifically for the South East geography.
The team
The role sits in the South East Water Resources Team within OCS, providing specialist technical WR planning expertise at water company and regional scale to maintain environmental performance within OCS and to the wider business.
Experience/skills required
Your excellent technical skills will be complimented by your ability to achieve results, solve problems and communicate technical issues in a clear and concise manner to a range of audiences.
You will be able to demonstrate the following:
• Political awareness and sensitivity
• Ability to influence and persuade key stakeholders i.e. water companies
• Expertise in a WR technical discipline, an understanding of WR planning techniques and awareness of new methods in development such as natural capital accounting
• Excellent communication skills, experience of managing and mitigating risks
• Ability to work across OCS, E&B and Area teams for a joined up and nationally consistent approach
• Coaching and mentoring of WR planners across the OCS WR community
• CIWEM chartership or working towards chartership
• Excellent judgement, problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent planning skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales.
Contact and additional information
This role is for 12m maternity cover from April 2023-April 2024. For further information contact the team leader Georgina Snelling georgina.snelling@environment-agency.gov.uk or current post holder Sarah Wardell sarah.wardell@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Interviews will be held remotely from the 24th January 2023.
Job description attachment 1
Candidate Pack – 25051.docx – 1057KB
Converted File Candidate Pack – 25051.docx.pdf – 610KB
Job description attachment 2
Job Profile – 25051.docx – 58KB
Converted File Job Profile – 25051.docx.pdf – 65KB
Closing Date: 08/01/2023, 23:55 hours
Level of security checks required: Basic Check
Length of contract: Up to 12 Months
Competence 1: Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Describe a time when you have successfully persuaded a key stakeholder to follow your advice on the direction of a major project or piece of work.
Competence 2: Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition – Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions
Question: Describe a situation when you successfully resolved a technical issue and the steps you took to achieve this.
Competence 3: Achieves Results
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: 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 a time when you successfully delivered a complex major project or piece of work and what you did to achieve this.
Competence 4: Strategic Environment Planning
Description
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses.
Definition: Develops, delivers and implements strategic plans for the sustainable use, protect and improvement of our environment. Understands current and future environmental pressures.
Question: Describe your understanding of the EA’s role in strategic water resources planning and the challenges facing the South East.
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.
