Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

Environment Agency; Shrewsbury; 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 and manage regulatory standards. This role involves strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and navigating complex regulatory environments to support the Agency's goals for a sustainable future. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and problem-solving skills, with a proven track record in operational leadership and change management.

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 regulatory bodies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and manage specialist operational teams.
• Collaborate with government and industry to ensure effective delivery.
• Translate regulatory policy into impactful delivery.

Skills

Operational leadership

Communication skills

Change management

Stakeholder management

Problem-solving

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 regulating a range of market-based schemes. An ambitious government reform programme is expanding our duties, and our teams are growing to meet these challenges. 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 provide National Income Services.

We are seeking an additional 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 need a leader to provide strategic leadership and manage our specialist operational teams, which deliver services with significant 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 direction. Your excellent communication and problem-solving skills will foster strong relationships with stakeholders, manage expectations, and champion our regulatory activities.

Your leadership will promote health, safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement, and diversity, equality & inclusion. You will think strategically, connect operational ways of working with supportive team management, delegation, and negotiation skills.

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

The team:

EM&R is part of the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) within Operations. It comprises five teams responsible for regulating Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Climate markets, National Income Services, and Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers, and Dealers. Currently, around 550 staff, with plans to grow, work 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 programmes and implementing new ways of working through others.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and gain commitment from Boards, policy groups, Defra, DESNZ, industry, and regulatory bodies.
• Excellent communication skills for briefing technical and non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage priorities, influence, and lead through others.
• Experience managing change and navigating high-profile political and regulatory challenges.
• Ability to translate complex technical and data insights into clear, impactful outcomes for stakeholders.

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

Additional information:

Responding to incidents is a key part of the role, and you must be available to respond or support during incidents. Full training will be provided.

Strong delegation and remote leadership skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. We value diversity and experience, which strengthen our organisation.

This position 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 terms differ from Crown employment. Civil service applicants should consider their status accordingly.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion, offering flexible working arrangements and guaranteed interviews for disabled applicants.

As a Non-Departmental Public Body, we use government frameworks for external recruitment. Direct contact via post, email, or phone is not accepted. For becoming a supplier, visit this link.