Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation - 30904

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

Job summary

A leading agency is seeking a Deputy Director for Environmental Markets & Regulation to provide strategic leadership and manage operational teams. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of regulatory regimes and promote health, safety, and inclusion. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential for navigating complex environments and managing diverse teams.

Benefits

Flexible Working Arrangements

Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

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.
• Contribute to agency goals through participation in leadership teams.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem Solving

Change Management

Stakeholder Management

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 various market-based schemes. An ambitious government programme of regulatory reforms is expanding our duties, and our teams are growing to support these changes. 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 manage National Income Services.

We are recruiting a permanent Deputy Director to support the delivery of emerging and existing regulatory regimes driven by government reform and environmental targets.

This role requires providing strategic leadership and management of our specialist operational teams, which deliver high-impact services nationally and internationally. You will collaborate with government, industry, and partner regulators to ensure effective delivery, set operational standards, and provide expert regulatory guidance. Your excellent communication and problem-solving skills will foster effective relationships with stakeholders, manage expectations, and champion our compliance activities.

Your leadership will promote health, safety, wellbeing, continuous improvement, and diversity, equality & inclusion. You will connect strategic thinking with team development, delegation, and negotiation skills.

You will contribute to the wider agency goals through participation in the National Regulation & Monitoring (NRM) Leadership Team and the Operations Executive Group, building relationships across departments to ensure ongoing success.

The EM&R team within National Regulation & Monitoring currently comprises five teams responsible for various regulatory areas, including Producer Responsibility Waste markets, Climate markets, and Hazardous Waste, Chemicals, Carriers, Brokers and Dealers. The team consists of approximately 550 staff and is set to grow. We work closely with Operations, 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 across boards, policy groups, and regulatory bodies including Defra and DESNZ.
• Excellent communication skills for briefing 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 clear, meaningful outcomes for stakeholders.

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

Contact and Additional Information

Responding to incidents is a core part of the role, and you will be expected to participate in incident response and business continuity during emergencies. Full training will be provided.

Strong delegation and remote leadership skills are essential for managing teams nationwide. We value diversity and encourage flexible working arrangements, including job sharing. Please specify your preferred working pattern in your application.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and guarantee interviews for disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, and employment terms differ from HM Civil Service. For details on service continuity and redundancy, contact your HR team.

We seek to build a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

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