Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

Environment Agency; Kidderminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environment Agency is seeking a Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation to lead and manage teams responsible for new and existing regulatory regimes. This role involves strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and navigating complex regulatory environments to support the Agency's goals towards a circular and Net-Zero economy.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse teams.
• Experience in managing complex work programmes.
• Ability to influence and secure commitment across various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management of operational teams.
• Deliver regulatory standards and expert technical direction.
• Build relationships with government, industry, and partner regulators.

Skills

Operational leadership

Communication skills

Change management

Influencing senior leaders

Problem-solving

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.

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, who deliver a range of services with high national and international impact. You will work with government, industry, and partner regulators to deliver through others, lead on operational regulatory standards, activities, and provide expert technical regulatory direction and expertise. 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 people leadership will champion health, safety & wellbeing, continuous improvement, and diversity, equality & inclusion. You will bring strategic thinking, connect ways of working with supportive team leadership, delegation, and negotiation skills.

While providing inclusive leadership, you will also contribute to the wider goals of the Agency through the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and the Operations Executive Group, building relationships across Operations and the wider business to ensure continued delivery for the Agency and community.

The team

Environmental Markets & Regulation is within National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) in Operations. EM&R comprises 5 teams responsible for regulation of Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Climate markets, our National Income Service, and regulation of Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, and Carriers, Brokers, and Dealers. Currently, around 550 staff, with plans to expand. We work closely across Operations, Environment & Business, Legal Services, and government.

Experience/skills Required

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

This role requires autonomous operation, translating regulatory policy into impactful delivery. You should be comfortable navigating complex environments to represent the organization and build trust with diverse stakeholders. A professional qualification in any discipline is expected.

Contact and additional information

Responding to incidents is central. You must be available to respond or provide business continuity during incidents. Full training provided.

Effective delegation and remote leadership skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. We value diversity of backgrounds and experiences.

This role reports to Malcolm Lythgo, Director of Operations, NRM. 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 & 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, consult your HR regarding redundancy rights.

We are committed to a diverse, inclusive workforce and flexible working arrangements. We guarantee interviews for applicants with disabilities meeting minimum criteria.

As a Non-Departmental Public Body, we use government frameworks for recruitment. Direct contact via post, email, or phone is not accepted. For support suppliers, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier.