31880 - Enforcement Advisor Reservoir Regulation Team

Environment Agency; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government environmental agency is seeking an Enforcement Advisory Officer to support statutory functions under the Reservoirs Act 1975. You will lead complex non-compliance resolution, manage enforcement actions, and provide specialist regulatory advice. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to engage with various stakeholders effectively. Experience in regulatory or enforcement roles is required.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Inclusive employer

Incident response training

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex regulatory or enforcement cases.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage conflict constructively.
• Familiarity with the Reservoirs Act 1975 and enforcement frameworks is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead resolution of complex non-compliance issues.
• Manage enforcement action and provide regulatory advice.
• Act as account manager for undertakers and drive compliance.
• Contribute to the delivery of environmental regulations.

Skills

Managing complex regulatory or enforcement cases

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Conflict management

Analysing legal and technical information

Public safety focus

Job description

Overview

The Enforcement Advisory Officer plays a critical national role in supporting the Environment Agency’s statutory functions under the Reservoirs Act 1975. You will lead the resolution of complex non-compliance issues, manage enforcement action, and provide specialist regulatory advice in safety-critical situations.

You will act as account manager for undertakers, including water companies, supporting proactive engagement, identifying risk early, and driving compliance through consistent, risk-based interventions. This requires excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, the ability to manage conflict constructively, and confidence to take proportionate formal action when needed.

You will lead high-risk non-compliance casework using the Compliance Action Plan (CAP) model, represent enforcement in account meetings, and contribute to the delivery of Balmforth Review recommendations and the future Environmental Permitting Regulations regime. You will also liaise with engineers, legal advisors, and other regulators to ensure public safety risks are effectively managed.

Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises. Having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment.

Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you! We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

This a national role so you can be based at any Environment Agency office.

The team

You will join the Environmental Assessment and Reservoir Regulation department within Flood & Coastal Risk Management (FCRM). The Reservoir Regulation Team is a nationally dispersed team of 25+ specialists who regulate over 2,140 large raised reservoirs across England. As the enforcement authority for the Reservoirs Act 1975, we manage high-risk non-compliance using proportionate enforcement powers to protect public safety. The team is based across the country, and some travel and overnight stays will be required.

Experience/skills required

We are seeking someone with experience of managing complex regulatory or enforcement cases, with strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills. You will need to be confident in managing conflict constructively and resilient in the face of challenge, while maintaining focus on compliance and public safety.

You should be able to analyse legal and technical information, assess risk, and provide sound recommendations for proportionate action. Strong written and verbal communication is essential, as is the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including undertakers, engineers, legal advisors, and internal leadership.

Desirable experience includes knowledge of the Reservoirs Act 1975, enforcement frameworks, public safety regulation, or infrastructure management. Familiarity with the Balmforth Review recommendations or Environmental Permitting Regulations reform would also be an advantage. Above all, you will be organised, adaptable, and motivated to deliver results through collaboration and regulatory impact.