Environment Planning Specialist - 30642

Environment Agency; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

generous annual leave

an excellent pension

flexible working arrangements

staff networks

Job summary

Environment Agency in the North East is seeking an Environment Planning Specialist to lead on Water Quality planning and Catchment Planning under the Water Framework Directive. You will work with cross-functional teams, water companies and regulators to protect and restore the region’s water environment, delivering evidence-based strategies and action plans.

The role requires technical leadership, collaboration and the ability to coach colleagues while planning and evaluating the impact of

Qualifications

• Experience of managing the water environment, ideally working with water companies.
• Proven ability to lead technically and to coach junior colleagues.
• Strong problem solving and decision making when unsupervised.
• Good organisational skills to plan, deliver and evaluate work.

Responsibilities

• Lead on elements of Water Quality planning and Catchment Planning under the Water Framework Directive.
• Provide technical direction for your functional area and use data to develop solutions.
• Develop and produce action plans and environmental management strategies.
• Collaborate with water companies, regulators and customers to reduce environmental impact.
• Coach and mentor staff across teams in the northeast.

Skills

Water environment

Technical leadership

Coaching juniors

Problem solving

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Grade Staff Grade 5

Post Type Permanent

Role Type Operational Delivery

Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share

We strive to reflect the communities we serve and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion.

Are you are passionate about the water environment and want to improve the quality of the waters in the North East? Is so, then this could be the role for you!

We are looking for an innovative problem solver to become an Environment Planning Specialist within our North East Area. Environment Planning is the centre of the Environment Agency’s work to protect and restore the water environment; it is crucial to people, wildlife and the economy.

You will lead on elements of our work on Water Quality planning and Catchment Planning (the Water Framework Directive), helping to protect and restore the quality of the areas water environment. This will require you to work across teams in the northeast and with colleagues in national teams, as well as with water companies, other regulators and our customers.

Work responsibilities

• provide technical direction for your functional area,
• using data to develop solutions to complex issues,
• undertake environmental assessments,
• develop and produce action plans and environmental management strategies,
• work with water companies, and other operators, to reduce the impact from their activities, and
• coach and mentor other staff.

You’ll have access to our great benefits package, including

• generous annual leave
• an excellent pension
• flexible working arrangements
• the opportunity to be part of a variety of staff networks

You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

The team You will be part of the Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) Team for the Environment Agency’s North East Area. We identify the environmental outcomes for the northeast, establish the evidence needed, and, deliver activities that help to protect and enhance the environment. We have roles which are primarily focused on: Catchment Planning, Protected Areas, Water Quality or Water Resources.

Experience/skills required You will have experience of managing the water environment, ideally working with water companies.

You will be able to demonstrate your technical leadership, including a proven ability to have technical conversations with a diverse audience and to coach junior colleagues.

You must have the ability to solve problems unsupervised; to assess information/data and to think critically about outcomes. You must also have good organisations skill; to plan, deliver and evaluate the work of yourself and others.

Knowledge and experience

• The Water Framework Directive,
• Environmental Protected Area management
• Environmental strategies and action plans,
• Ecological and / or water quality modelling / assessment,
• Pollution and wastewater management,
• Water resources management,
• Water company performance / regulation
• Water Industry National Environment Programme

You should be educated to degree level in an appropriate discipline, or able to demonstrate at least 3 years of appropriate experience.

Contact and additional information Base location will be an office in the North East Area, with occasional site visits and some national travel expected. The team currently works together one day each week within Tyneside House and participates in face-to-face to meetings when appropriate, whilst at other times remote working is the norm.

Your answers to the below competencies will be used for selection. Please see the competency dictionary within the candidate pack - you may find it helpful to use the STAR approach to answer the questions.

If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.

Please contact Kyle McGuigan (Integrated Environment Planning – Team Leader) on [e-mail] further information about this role.

Competence 1 Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description In this role you will need to decide how to respond to problems, consider the opportunities and constraints of a given situation, and decide what action to take.

Can you describe a time when you had to identify options to address a specific issue, and decide which option was best?

Competence 2 Influences and Persuades Others

Description In this role you will need to work closely with others and some of the messages you will share will be challenged by others.

Can you describe a time when you had to influence someone else to change their mind, or to gain their buy-in?

Competence 3 Achieves Results

Description In this role you need to deliver high standards of work in an environment of changing priorities.

Can you describe a time when you were unable to meet a deadline or target?

Competence 4 Strategic Environment Planning

Description In this role, you will need to plan for changes in the water environment or activities that influence the water environment.

Can you describe a time when you produced a plan to meet an environmental outcome?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website .Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.