Integrated Environment Planning Specialist – Water Quality - 30558

Environment Agency; West Malling; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Environment Agency is seeking an Integrated Environment Planning Specialist – Water Quality in West Malling to help identify, plan and influence water quality improvement actions across KSLES. You will review technical plans, advise stakeholders and translate diverse information into evidence to inform decisions.

The role requires strong planning and data handling skills, ability to communicate complex data to varied audiences, and a degree in an environmental field or equivalent experience.

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant environmental discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience analysing large data sets and communicating findings to varied audiences.
• Ability to review and translate information into evidence for decision-makers.
• Experience with water quality policy, regulation or planning is desirable.
• Membership of a relevant professional institute (e.g., CIWEM) is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Identify, plan and influence the delivery of water quality improvement actions.
• Review and advise stakeholder plans, providing technical advice on compliance.
• Understand, analyse and translate information into evidence for technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Influencing decisions

Data analysis

Communication skills

Water quality knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in environmental discipline

Job description

Integrated Environment Planning Specialist – Water Quality - 30558

Number of jobs available 1

Region South East

City/Town West Malling

Building/Site DEFRA GRP EA ORCHARD HOUSE, ME19 5SH

Grade Staff Grade 5

Post Type Permanent

Role Type Environment & Sustainability, Operational Delivery

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.

If you’re passionate about our water environment and want to make a difference to the quality of our rivers in Kent, South London and East Sussex (KSLES), then this might be the perfect role for you.

We’re looking for an individual with excellent planning, communication and data handling skills to help identify, plan and influence the delivery of water quality improvement actions.

The successful candidate will work on a variety of aspects of water quality planning to understand the risks, find solutions and work with those who can effect change. They will review and advise stakeholders plans, providing technical advice to ensure they comply with environmental regulations.

They will also be required to understand, analyse and translate a variety of information into evidence that can be used to inform and influence decisions by technical and non-technical audiences.

The team

The Integrated Environment Planning team is a friendly, supportive and knowledgeable team divided into two main workstreams; Water Quality and Catchment Planning. We work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure our data is accurate and to bring together a wide range of evidence to support the identification of environmental improvement opportunities across the area.

Experience/skills required

Knowledge and experience of the following would be advantageous:

• Working with external partners, influencing decisions and demonstrating leadership.
• Analysing large data sets to make evidence led decisions (experience of statistical packages is desirable).
• Ability to communicate technical data to a range of audiences.
• Water company price review and asset management plans.
• Water quality legislation, policy, strategy and permitting.
• Understanding of water quality modelling techniques.
• Awareness of how water quality is impacted by wider environmental pressures.

Essential: A degree in a relevant environmental discipline or equivalent experience.

Desirable: Membership of, or working towards a membership of, a relevant professional institute (e.g. CIWEM)

Contact and additional information

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role making yourself available to respond to incidents/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.

Role is based at Orchard House, West Malling Kent. Interviews will be in person on 23, 24 & 25 April 2025.

For further details please contact Laura Jones Integrated Environment Planning Team Leader via email [e-mail]

We are an office-based team with an expectation that 50% of your time will be spent in the office along with additional site visits/other face to face meetings as required.

Competence 1 Influences and Persuades Others

Description Please note we do not assess CVs. It is your answers given to the questions below that will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. We encourage you to refer to the candidate pack for a link to our "EA capability dictionary" You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your response.

Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Please tell us about a time you have needed to influence and persuade individuals with different priorities to yours to contribute to your work or project. How did you achieve their input?

Competence 2 Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description Please note we do not assess CVs. It is your answers given to the questions below that will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. We encourage you to refer to the candidate pack for a link to our "EA capability dictionary" You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your response.

Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Tell us about a time that you have identified a problem, explaining the steps you took to solve the problem, and any additional issues you had to overcome.

Competence 3 Data and Information Management

Description Please note we do not assess CVs. It is your answers given to the questions below that will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. We encourage you to refer to the candidate pack for a link to our "EA capability dictionary" You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your response.

Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Describe a time when you have had to use data to inform a decision around prioritisation of work for a project or department.

Competence 4 Communicates Effectively

Description Please note we do not assess CVs. It is your answers given to the questions below that will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your response. We encourage you to refer to the candidate pack for a link to our "EA capability dictionary" You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your response.

Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Please provide an example of a time when you have had to convey complex technical information to a non-technical audience.

Role specific license requirements

Full UK Driving Licence

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.