32601 - Senior Strategy & Government Relations Advisor

Environment Agency; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A public agency focused on environmental protection is seeking experienced individuals to join the Strategy Directorate. These roles involve shaping strategic thinking and managing engagements with government and stakeholders, impacting areas such as flood risk and climate change. The ideal candidates will have strong communication and analytical skills. This position requires flexibility under pressure and the ability to collaborate on high-profile projects, ensuring the agency's strategy is upheld and reputation enhanced.

Qualifications

• Self-motivated individual with experience in managing a portfolio of work.
• Proven advisor with an understanding of Government and Parliamentary processes.
• Experience in working on organisation-wide strategies and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Shape strategic thinking and engagement with Government and key stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with governmental departments and produce strategic insights.
• Support the Environment Agency’s emergency response during flood incidents.

Skills

Political judgment

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Flexibility under pressure

Attention to detail

Job description

We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it—for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.

We are looking for four enthusiastic and experienced individuals to join the Environment Agency’s Strategy Directorate. This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a key role at the heart of the organisation. Successful candidates will either join the Government Relations or the Strategy teams within the Strategy Directorate.

In this role, you’ll shape the Environment Agency’s strategic thinking and strengthen its work with Government, Parliament, and key stakeholders. Examples of critical work these roles could lead include managing relationships with Government departments, producing strategic insights on future environmental challenges, leading analytical sprints or problem-solving on corporate priorities, responses to Select Committee inquiries, devising political engagement strategies or handling, or supporting the design and delivery of the Environment Agency’s corporate strategy EA2030. You will provide expert advice to the Chair, Chief Executive, Executive Directors, and senior managers on reputational, political, and strategic issues. You will work across multiple teams and cross-cutting projects.

Your work will span issues such as flood risk, climate change, environmental protection, circular economy, planning, and water resources. These roles will require agile and creative thinking, political nous, good relationship building and communication, and strong analytical skills. The roles also include supporting the Environment Agency’s emergency response, particularly during major flood incidents and they may include line management. Working flexibly within the Strategy Directorate, you will protect and enhance the Environment Agency’s strategy and reputation across Whitehall and Westminster, and beyond.

Working at the heart of the organisation, you will lead high-profile work, from managing relationships with government departments to driving the vision set out in our EA2030 corporate strategy.

Experience/skills required

We are looking for self-motivated individuals who can manage a busy portfolio of work and deliver results through others from across the organisation on time, to a high standard. You will be an experienced advisor, customer-focused, have great communication skills and an excellent understanding of Government and Parliamentary processes.

• Sound political judgment and awareness.
• Agile and curious thinking and analytical skills, knowing how to solve problems.
• Ability to work closely with senior managers and build networks quickly.
• Flexibility to deliver high-quality work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, and ability to present information clearly.
• Experience in working on organisation-wide strategies and/or engagement, including stakeholder mapping.
• Knowledge of environmental issues and/or sustainable growth (desirable).

This role requires influencing skills and the ability to collaborate effectively to shape outcomes that create strategy and protect and enhance the Environment Agency’s reputation.