Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

Environment Agency; Ely; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environment Agency seeks a Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation to lead operational teams and manage regulatory standards. This role requires strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills to navigate complex environments and ensure effective delivery of regulatory regimes.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management of operational teams.
• Collaborate with government, industry, and partner regulators.
• Champion compliance activities and promote health and safety.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Negotiation

Education

Professional Qualification

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 regulation of various market-based schemes. An ambitious government programme of regulatory reforms is expanding our duties, and our teams are growing to support these new regimes. 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 Dealers, and International Waste Shipments. They also provide National Income Services.

We are recruiting 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 policies, 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, activities, and provide expert technical direction. Your excellent communication and problem-solving skills will foster effective 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, supportive team working, delegation, and negotiation skills.

While providing inclusive leadership, you will also contribute to broader agency goals through participation in the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and Operations Executive Group, fostering relationships across operations and the wider organization.

The team

EM&R is part of the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) within Operations, comprising five teams responsible for regulation of waste markets, climate markets, national income services, hazardous waste, chemicals, and carriers/brokers/dealers. Currently around 550 staff, with plans to grow, working closely with Environment & Business, Legal Services, and government partners.

Experience/Skills Required

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

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

Contact and Additional Information

Responding to incidents is central; you must be available to respond or support during incidents, with full training provided. Effective delegation and remote leadership skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. Diversity and inclusion are valued, and flexible working arrangements are supported.

This role reports to Malcolm Lythgo, Director of Operations, NRM. A virtual briefing call is scheduled for 28th May 2025, 10-11am. To attend, contact Malcolm’s PA at [e-mail]. Virtual interviews are planned for 28th & 29th July 2025.

Note: The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; employment does not confer Crown Servant status or continuous service. For local government or similar employees, consider your eligibility for continuous service for redundancy purposes. For questions, consult your HR.

We are committed to a diverse workforce and welcome flexible working, including job share. We guarantee interviews for disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. As a Non-Departmental Public Body, we use government frameworks for external recruitment; direct market engagement is not available.