Water Resources Planning Specialist

About us

Join the Environment Agency and help us protect our environment while preserving it for future generations. As a Water Resources Planning Specialist, this is an opportunity to have a long-term influence on our water environment, as well as the communities, plants and animals that depend on it. It’s also a chance to impact the way businesses invest and operate in the water industry, by balancing the needs of the economy with the requirements of diverse ecosystems.

You will support the delivery of projects and investigations related to Water Company Water Resources activities. For example:
• Investigations into potentially unsustainable abstractions
• Working with water companies to implement environmental improvement schemes
• Assessing flood risk implications of water company projects

Your role will be key in:

• Organising internal project teams to provide technical advice to water companies
• Managing the relationship with water companies and local interest groups to achieve the best environmental outcome
• Providing advice to senior managers and facilitating resolution of complex or contentious issues
• Negotiating resources from internal delivery teams
• Building productive and influential relationships with external partners
• Using your technical understanding and judgement to scrutinise the methodology and outcomes of investigations

Where you will work 

The Integrated Environment Planning team has a pivotal role in collating, analysing and sharing data to produce evidence that informs and drives area priorities. The team includes Specialists and Officers who focus on water resources, water quality and Water Framework Directive activities. We drive the Area’s work on Water Company planning for both Water Quality and Water Resources.

Our Welwyn Garden City base location has a hybrid model allowing individuals to work either at home or at our office (a minimum number of days in the office per week will be agreed with your line manager and will be dependent on business needs and reviewed periodically).

What do you need?

•  Good knowledge of water resources issues
•  A degree in a relevant subject or relevant experience in the environment sector
•  Self-starter who can deliver key project tasks
•  The ability to run a technical (virtual) team
•  Very good written and verbal communication skills, including portraying complex information for a    wide range of audiences to comprehend
•  Ability to build productive and influential relationships, including with Water Companies
•  An established record of practical problem solving
•  The ability to think through challenges unsupervised and as part of a team
•  An ability to train and coach others 

What you will get: 

• Annual salary £37,462
• Training and support for professional development
• 27 days of annual leave + 8 bank holidays
• Wellbeing programmes
• Career development and training
• Employee benefits
• Flexible hybrid working hours + the potential for 15 additional flexi credit days if credit hours have been accrued
• Joining a workplace known for its friendly culture which strongly believes in inclusivity and allowing people to be their best self at work.
  

Contact and Additional Information 

At the Environment Agency, we go above and beyond when it comes to diversity—we seek out new perspectives, welcome different experiences and promote inclusivity both within our staff team as well as wider communities. We're on a mission to create lasting change for people's lives across every corner of society.

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 workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role. 

If you have any questions regarding the vacancy or application process, please contact the recruitment team at earecruitment@peoplescout.co.uk.

The information in the candidate pack is available and should be read in conjunction with the advert to understand key accountabilities and skills for success in this role.