Water Resources Senior Advisor - 26536

Job description

This is a critical new role to focus on the need for senior technical leadership for all our work in Area to deliver the Environment Agency strategic goals for Water Resources (WR) including:

• Resilience to climate change; to manage the pressure from drier summers and hotter temperatures.
• Green growth and a sustainable future; to manage the increasing demand for water from people, businesses, industry and agriculture.
• Healthy air, land and water; to maintain sufficient water for the environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing, setting and leading the long-term strategy and environmental ambition for area WR, resilient to the increasing pressure from climate change and water demand.
• Programme lead for planning our engagement with the water company, WR Price Review (PR) and Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).
• Oversee stakeholder relationships as regulator, partner and influential advisor for our WR ambition, including water company, regional partnership groups, licence holders and their representatives.
• Lead our area WR evidence to ensure decisions, internally and by stakeholders, are based on the best technical evidence and information, and specialist expertise and guidance.
• Manage our area WR programme, projects and activities. Coordinate with all area teams, South and South West Hub, and National Operations and Environment and Business Teams.
• Implement future legislation and business change to improve WR environmental outcomes including licensing, drought planning and management, and restoring sustainable abstraction.
• WR business performance reporting.
• Technical development of our WR expertise, including staff training and development for WR legislation and licensing.
• Developing and leading on both internal and external engagement and communications to support our WR ambition

You will also be required to contribute to our environmental incident response that may involve working outside normal hours and attract additional payments. Full training will be provided.

The team

The role will provide the technical leadership for the integrated ‘One Team’ culture for our Area Water Resources (WR) ambition, including Area, and National Environment and Business, and Operations teams. It will sit within the Environment Planning and Engagement Department, and report to the WR Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) Team Leader to strengthen the delivery of this newly formed specialist team. It will also be a key role for leading engagement with external WR stakeholders.

Experience/skills required

As the Area senior specialist for Water Resources (WR), you will need a detailed technical knowledge of the Environment Agency role for WR regulation and planning for environmental sustainability. Previous experience of working with internal and external stakeholders (especially water companies) for WR will be beneficial. Specific capabilities include:

• WR Legislation and regulation including licensing
• Working with WR licence holders including water companies
• Planning for future WR sustainability, including drought management
• Strong communication and influencing skills and proven ability to build strong internal and external relationships at all levels
• Technical leadership behaviours that embody Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and can motivate and enthuse a diverse range of people
• Ability to provide high level advice, guidance and judgement to inform decision making for the business and manage organisational risks related to WR.

Contact and additional information

We are committed to increasing equality, diversity and inclusion. This includes welcoming applications from all members of our community, and considering flexible working.
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Charles Ikediashi (DCIS Integrated Environment Planning Team Leader) – charles.ikediashi@environment-agency.gov.uk 07833 407883

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £47,646.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexitime
• Work from home

Schedule:

• Flexitime

Work Location: In person