Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

Environment Agency; Blandford Forum; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environment Agency is seeking a Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation to lead regulatory initiatives and manage operational teams. This role involves strategic direction, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring compliance with emerging regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills and a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Guaranteed interviews for disabled applicants

Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse teams.
• Experience delivering complex work programmes.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and secure commitment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and manage operational teams.
• Collaborate with government and industry for effective delivery.
• Translate policy into impactful delivery.

Skills

Operational leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Professional qualification in any discipline

Job description

Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

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Job Description

The Environment Agency is committed to delivering a more circular and Net-Zero economy by reducing waste and carbon emissions through the regulation of various market-based schemes. An ambitious government programme of regulatory reforms is expanding our responsibilities, and our teams are growing to meet these new demands. The Environmental Markets & Regulation (EM&R) team in Operations oversees the regulation of schemes including Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Carbon Markets, Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers, and International Waste Shipments. They also manage National Income Services.

We are recruiting a permanent Deputy Director to support the delivery of emerging and existing regulatory regimes driven by government reform and increasing environmental ambitions.

As we transition to new regulatory policies, we seek a leader to provide strategic direction and manage our specialist operational teams, which deliver high-impact services nationally and internationally. You will collaborate with government, industry, and partner regulators to ensure effective delivery, set operational standards, and offer expert regulatory guidance. Your excellent communication and problem-solving skills will facilitate strong relationships with stakeholders, manage expectations, and champion compliance activities.

Your leadership will promote health, safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement, and diversity, equality, and inclusion. You will bring strategic thinking, foster teamwork, delegate effectively, and negotiate successfully.

While leading inclusively, you will also contribute to the broader goals of the Agency through participation in the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and the Operations Executive Group, building relationships across departments to ensure continued success for the Agency and community.

The team:

Environmental Markets & Regulation is part of the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) within Operations. It comprises five teams responsible for regulating Waste markets, Climate markets, National Income Services, and Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers, and Dealers, currently totaling around 550 staff, with plans for growth. The team collaborates closely with Operations, Environment & Business, Legal Services, and government bodies.

Experience/Skills Required

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience delivering complex work programmes through others and implementing innovative approaches.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and secure commitment from Boards, policy groups, Defra, DESNZ, industry, and regulators.
• Excellent communication skills for briefing technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, influence, and deliver results through others.
• Experience managing change and navigating high-profile political and regulatory challenges.
• Ability to translate complex technical and data insights into clear, meaningful outcomes for stakeholders.

The role requires autonomy, translating policy into impactful delivery, and navigating complex political and regulatory environments to build trust with diverse stakeholders. A professional qualification in any discipline is preferred.

Additional Information

Responding to incidents is central to our work; you will be expected to participate in incident response and business continuity support, with full training provided.

Strong delegation and remote leadership skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. We value diversity and inclusive leadership, welcoming flexible working arrangements, including job sharing. We support applicants with disabilities through our Guaranteed Interview Policy.

This role reports to Malcolm Lythgo, Director of Operations, National Regulation & Monitoring. A virtual briefing will be held on 28th May 2025, 10-11 am. To attend, contact Malcolm’s PA at [e-mail]. Virtual interviews are scheduled for 28th and 29th July 2025.

Please note: The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; employment will not be as a Crown Servant, and continuous service may not apply. For those in local government or similar bodies, check your eligibility for continuous service for redundancy purposes. For questions, consult your HR.

We are committed to a diverse, inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working. We guarantee interviews for disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. Our external recruitment is managed through government frameworks; direct market engagement is not available.