Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

Environment Agency; Sheffield; 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 operational teams, manage regulatory frameworks, and foster stakeholder relationships. This role is pivotal in driving the agency's environmental goals and ensuring compliance across various markets.

Qualifications

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse teams.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and secure commitment.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of regulatory regimes driven by government reforms.
• Manage specialist operational teams delivering high-impact services.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Leadership

Negotiation

Education

Professional Qualification

Job description

Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

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Job Description

The Environment Agency is working towards a more circular and Net-Zero economy by reducing waste and carbon emissions through regulation of various market-based schemes. An ambitious government reform program is expanding our duties, leading to team growth to manage new regimes. The Environmental Markets & Regulation (EM&R) team in Operations oversees these schemes, including Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Carbon Markets, Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers and Dealers, and International Waste Shipments. They also manage National Income Services.

Role Overview

We are recruiting a permanent Deputy Director to support the delivery of both emerging and existing regulatory regimes driven by government reforms and increasing environmental ambitions. This leadership role involves strategic management of specialist operational teams that deliver high-impact services nationally and internationally. You will collaborate with government, industry, and regulators to ensure operational standards and provide technical regulatory guidance. Your excellent communication and problem-solving skills will facilitate effective stakeholder relationships, manage expectations, and champion compliance activities.

Your leadership will promote health, safety, wellbeing, diversity, equality, and inclusion. You will connect strategic thinking with supportive teamwork, delegation, and negotiation skills. Additionally, you will contribute to the wider agency goals through participation in the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and the Operations Executive Group, fostering relationships across the organization to ensure continued delivery for the community.

Team Structure

EM&R is part of the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) within Operations, comprising five teams responsible for regulation of waste markets, climate markets, and hazardous substances, with approximately 550 staff, set to grow. The team works closely with other parts of Operations, Environment & Business, Legal Services, and government bodies.

Experience and Skills Required

• Proven operational leadership across large, diverse, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Experience delivering complex work programs and implementing innovative working methods.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and secure commitment across various organizational levels and external bodies.
• Excellent communication skills for briefing technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and influence outcomes 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 autonomous operation, translating policy into impactful delivery, and navigating complex environments to build trust with stakeholders. A professional qualification in any discipline is preferred.

Additional Information

This role involves incident response responsibilities, with full training provided. Effective remote leadership and delegation skills are essential. The position reports to Malcolm Lythgo, Director of Operations, and includes participation in virtual briefings and interviews scheduled for July 2025.

Note on Civil Service Eligibility: The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service. Applicants should consult HR regarding eligibility for continuous service. We promote diversity and inclusion and welcome flexible working arrangements and applications from disabled candidates, with guaranteed interview policies in place.

We utilize government frameworks for external recruitment, and direct market engagement is not conducted.