Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

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

Job summary

A leading agency in the UK is seeking a Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation to provide strategic leadership in regulatory reforms. The role involves managing diverse teams, influencing stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with environmental policies. Candidates should possess strong operational leadership skills and the ability to navigate complex regulatory challenges.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Full training provided for incident response

Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse teams.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management of operational teams.
• Collaborate with government and industry to ensure effective delivery.
• Translate regulatory 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 delivering a more circular and Net-Zero economy by reducing waste and carbon through regulating a range of market-based schemes. An ambitious Government programme of regulatory reforms means we are getting a raft of new duties and our teams are growing to deliver those new regimes. The Environmental Markets & Regulation (EM&R) team in Operations delivers the regulation of these schemes, including Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Carbon Markets, Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers and Dealers, and International Waste Shipments. They also deliver National Income Services.

Role Overview

We are recruiting for an additional permanent Deputy Director to support the delivery of emerging and existing regulatory regimes driven by government reform and increasing environmental ambition. As we navigate transitions to new regulatory policy, we seek a leader to provide strategic leadership and management of our specialist operational teams, which deliver services with high national and international impact. You will collaborate with government, industry, and partner regulators to ensure effective delivery, lead on operational regulatory standards, and provide expert technical regulatory direction.

Your excellent communication and advanced problem-solving abilities will enable effective and collaborative relationships with stakeholders, manage expectations, and champion our regulatory and compliance activities. Your leadership will promote health, safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement, and diversity, equality, and inclusion. You will connect strategic thinking with supportive team working, delegation, and negotiation skills.

Additionally, you will contribute to wider Agency goals through participation in the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and the Operations Executive Group, fostering relationships across Operations and the broader organization to ensure continued delivery for the Agency and community.

The Team

Environmental Markets & Regulation is part of the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) in Operations. The team comprises five units responsible for regulation of Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Climate markets, National Income Service, and Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers, and Dealers. Currently, approximately 550 staff, with plans for growth, work closely with Environment & Business, Legal Services, and government partners.

Experience and Skills Required

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

The role requires autonomous operation, translating regulatory policy into impactful delivery, and navigating complex environments to build trust with stakeholders. A professional qualification in any discipline is desirable.

Additional Information

Responding to incidents is central. You will be expected to respond to incidents or support business continuity during incidents, with full training provided. Effective remote leadership and delegation skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. Diversity and inclusion are valued, and flexible working arrangements are encouraged.

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