Strategy & Government Relations Manager - 32602

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A national environmental organisation based in London is seeking experienced Strategy & Government Relations Managers. In this leadership role, you will shape the agency's strategic direction and manage key relationships with government and stakeholders. Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills, a background in strategy delivery, and knowledge of environmental issues. Flexible working arrangements are supported, and you will play a vital role in delivering impactful results in a complex environment.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Inner London weighting

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build rapport quickly with senior leaders.
• Experience in shaping and delivering organisation-wide strategies.
• Strong leadership skills to motivate teams.

Responsibilities

• Shape the Environment Agency's strategic direction.
• Manage relationships across government departments.
• Provide advice on strategic risks and opportunities.

Skills

Political judgement

Creative and strategic thinking

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Experience in strategy delivery

Knowledge of environmental issues

Job description

We 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.

Strategy & Government Relations Manager – 32602

Number of jobs available: 4

Region: London, National

City/Town: London, All

Building/Site: DEFRA GRP MARSHAM STREET, SW1P 4DF

Grade: Staff Grade 7

Post Type: Permanent

Role Type: Business Management & Improvement

Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time

Salary Minimum: £68,820

Closing Date: 04/01/2026, 23:55 hours

We are looking for three experienced and dynamic leaders to join the Environment Agency's Strategy Directorate. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply for a leadership role at the centre of the Environment Agency.

As Strategy & Government Relations Managers, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the Environment Agency's strategic direction and strengthening its reputation with Government, Parliament, and key stakeholders. All roles include line management with each role leading a distinct portfolio, from managing relationships across government departments to preparing the organisation for tomorrow's challenges. You will provide pro‑active advice to the Chair, Chief Executive, Executive Directors, and senior managers on reputational, political, and strategic risks and opportunities.

Our national Strategy Directorate supports senior leadership, drives future thinking, and manages the most senior customers for the organisation. We develop and implement strategies that resonate with staff, customers, and partners, ensuring delivery of our mission: creating better places for people and wildlife. As part of the directorate's senior team, you will play a key leadership role in delivering results through a complex internal and external stakeholder landscape and fostering collaboration across the organisation. These roles suit individuals who thrive in complexity and can adapt with pace and flexibility, shaping organisational direction through insight and evidence. You will drive innovation, develop and empower colleagues, and support the organisation in delivering impact both now and in the future.

Your leadership will be critical in championing the Environment Agency in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond, and delivering our mission, balancing long‑term goals with short‑term problem‑solving.

The team

These roles sit within the Environment Agency's Strategy Directorate, working across two fast‑paced teams: Government Relations and Strategy. Government Relations leads parliamentary engagement, ministerial briefing, and stakeholder relationships. The Strategy team drives corporate strategy, future thinking, and mission‑focused delivery.

Leading people at the heart of the organisation, you will actively enhance our relationships with government departments and drive the vision set out in our EA2030 corporate strategy.

Experience / Skills Required

We are seeking self‑motivated leaders to manage a diverse portfolio, deliver results through others, and maintain high standards under pressure. You will be an experienced manager with strong communication skills, customer focus, and a sound understanding of Government and Parliamentary processes.

You’ll bring:

• Political judgement, acting on intelligence effectively.
• Creative, agile and strategic thinking, problem‑solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to build rapport quickly with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, winning over senior colleagues and stakeholders.
• Experience in shaping and delivering organisation‑wide strategies and engagement.
• Ability to anticipate trends, devise strategies to manage these, and influence organisational direction.
• Skill in developing and presenting evidence‑based recommendations persuasively.
• Strong relationship‑building and leadership skills to motivate teams and deliver outcomes.
• Knowledge of environmental issues and/or sustainable growth.

Success will require pro‑active strategic thinking, excellent relationship building, and proven experience in leading high‑profile work with direction, agility and resilience.

Contact and Additional Information

The successful candidates will preferably be based at our Marsham Street office in London or travel there frequently. London‑based roles require an enhanced security check, including at least three years' UK residency. These posts are eligible for inner London weighting (£4,406 per annum).

We welcome flexible working patterns, including hybrid arrangements, and will consider civil service secondments.

Applications are "blind" assessed using competency question responses.

Interviews will be held via MS Teams from mid January.

This role includes incident response duties, please see the Candidate Information Pack for details.

Competence 1 – Builds and Sustains Relationships

More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.

Definition: Develops and maintains effective working relationships.

Building effective relationships and trust with people inside and outside the organisation is critical in this role.

Question: Tell us about a time you had to build and sustain an effective network of people and senior colleagues inside and outside your organisation to deliver a critical project or programme driving significant impact across Westminster or Whitehall. What was the context, who were the stakeholders, what actions did you take to establish trust and maintain momentum, and what was the result?

Competence 2 – Manages Self

Definition: Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency.

The work of the team can sometimes be highly reactive and variable, often with urgent deadlines.

Question: Describe a time when you had to deliver a high‑profile project, programme or engagement under high pressure and to tight deadlines whilst managing competing high workloads and demands from senior leaders or stakeholders. How did you organise yourself, maintain focus, and ensure successful delivery? What was the outcome?

Competence 3 – Influences and Persuades Others

Definition: 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.

In this role you will frequently need to convince often more senior colleagues or stakeholders that a particular course of action is right.

Question: Describe a time when you had to persuade a senior colleague or stakeholder to change course on a critical piece of work and support your proposals. What was at stake, how did you tailor your case, how did you manage challenging conversations, what tactics did you use and what was the outcome?

Competence 4 – Delivers Results Through Others

Definition: Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.

This is a busy role with multiple portfolios and you will need to deliver results for senior customers through your team and through colleagues across the organisation.

Question: Describe a time when you had to deliver a complex set of outcomes on a tight timeline involving many teams and colleagues across an organisation for senior customers, meeting their expectations. How did you organise the work, align standards and processes, keep momentum, and what was the result?

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 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.

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.

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 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 . Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.