Location
Central London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Up to £52,929

About the Role
The Environment Agency has a broad and varied remit to protect and enhance the environment, aiming 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 depend on this precious resource. As water becomes increasingly scarce, we need to ensure its protection. Water companies must invest billions of pounds over the next five years to safeguard the environment from pollution, a scale of investment not seen for over a generation. We need your knowledge and experience to help us advise water companies on their plans and hold them accountable for protecting the water environment. Join us in ensuring our environment is protected now and for future generations.

Operations Catchment Services works to secure the greatest possible outcomes across key stakeholders, influencing significant investment in the water environment. The new Bathing Water posts will be part of the OCS Water Quality team. As these are new posts, you will help shape its work and embed it in the wider team culture. We take a one business approach, working closely with colleagues across the whole organisation.

You will lead in establishing and embedding this work stream within the team and community of practice to enable Operations to fulfil its responsibilities, which will include tasks like the assessment of Water Company proposals to meet bathing water standards. You will work closely with Local Area Integrated Environmental Planning Teams and Head Office Water Quality Guidance Teams as well as the Water Industry. You will quickly become the operational expert and technical leader on the Bathing Water subject area. Flexibility and readiness to contribute to solving challenges, sometimes in unfamiliar territory without established processes or guidance, will be essential. You will collaborate with Environment & Business (Head Office Teams) to support colleagues across the Environment Agency in finding solutions that protect and enhance water quality, including participation in the operational community of practice in Bathing Waters. You will be part of a nationally dispersed team and will be expected to travel for national meetings with occasional overnight stays. Responding to incidents is a central part of our work, and you will be required to have an incident role, making yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract additional payment, and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

Experience
Essential: Degree in a relevant environmental discipline (e.g., Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Engineering, GeoScience, Ecology, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Data Science and Analytics). 5 or more years of work experience in a relevant environmental discipline (e.g., work for Water companies, Environmental or Engineering consultancy, regulatory roles, research and education, Environmental charities).

Desirable: A sound knowledge of water quality planning, bathing water regulations, and an understanding of the water industry and the price review process. Experience in water quality modelling is preferable.

About you
Excellent communication and networking skills are required as you will provide a link between the OCS Water Quality team and a range of Environment Agency colleagues, ensuring consistency and sharing knowledge.

Qualifications
No specific qualifications beyond the degree and experience requirements are listed, but a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainability is essential.