Water Training, Skills and Resilience Advisor G5 - 30544

Environment Agency; Clyst Honiton; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Work from home options

Job summary

Environment Agency in the United Kingdom is seeking a Water Training, Skills and Resilience Advisor G5 to shape a new development programme for our 1000+ water staff. You will coordinate training with technical experts, identify skills gaps, and support workforce planning and CPD opportunities across teams.

You will review current training opportunities, drive improvements, and engage with external partners such as Water UK.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in teaching and/or delivering training programmes.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing L&D programmes with measurable improvements.
• Proficient in data analysis to review feedback and survey data.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage relationships with external partners such as Water UK.
• Strong writing skills for reports, social media and bulletins.
• Strategic thinker linking L&D to business outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to multitask.
• Proactive, self‑motivated and resilient with changing priorities.
• Team player who can also work independently.
• Proficient in SharePoint, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate training sessions on various water quality topics with SMEs.
• Work with water teams to support workforce action and succession plans.
• Develop career pathways with water teams.
• Gather intelligence on skills and training gaps.
• Coordinate new starter training programmes and inductions.
• Overhaul the training and development programme across water quality activities.
• Coordinate workforce planning, recruitment and resilience efforts.
• Measure and refine the effectiveness of L&D programmes using data.
• Proactively communicate and celebrate L&D initiatives and successes.
• Drive a culture of continuous professional development.
• Work with line managers to develop their team members.

Skills

Training delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Report writing

Team collaboration

Presentation skills

Organisational skills

Adaptability

Proactive mindset

SharePoint

Excel

PowerPoint

Education

A level or equivalent in natural science

Tools

SharePoint

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Water Training, Skills and Resilience Advisor G5 - 30544

Can you work with colleagues across different teams to help shape and build a diverse, skilled, and resilient workforce for now and the future?
At the Environment Agency we are creating a better place for the environment and people. We can’t do this without ensuring our staff can develop the personal, technical, and professional skills needed to meet the environmental challenges we face.
As a Training and Skills Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our new skills and development programme for our 1000+ water staff. The role will include collaborating with virtual teams and technical staff to identify skills and learning gaps, coordinating training sessions, exploring workforce planning, retention and recruitment opportunities, and providing new continuous professional development (CPD) opportunities. Your focus in the first year will be on the new water quality upskilling programme to ensure our department has the appropriate training and skills for now and in the future. You will review current skills and training opportunities and work innovatively to enhance short and long‑term workforce planning activities and projects to support the changing and developing workforce needs of the department.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and coordinate training sessions on various water quality-related topics alongside our subject matter experts.
• Work with water teams to support workforce action and succession plans.
• Develop career pathways with water teams.
• Gather intelligence on skills and training gaps.
• Coordinate new starter training programmes and inductions.
• Overhaul the training and development programme, particularly across water quality activities, alongside technical experts.
• Coordinate workforce planning, recruitment, and resilience efforts.
• Measure and refine the effectiveness of L&D programmes using data.
• Proactively communicate and celebrate L&D initiatives and successes.
• Drive a culture of continuous professional development.
• Work with line managers to develop their team members.

The team Positioned within Operations Catchment Services in the Environment & Business Directorate, the Water Training and Skills team is a small and friendly team dedicated to enhancing the skills and knowledge of our 1000+ staff, as well as bringing in new talent. We work closely with water teams to understand their learning and development and workforce planning needs, provide training, career outreach and marketing materials, as well as running the Water Graduate Scheme.

Experience/skills required

• 2+ years of experience in teaching and/or delivering training programmes.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing comprehensive L&D programmes, demonstrating improvements in employee/student performance and engagement.
• Proficient in data analysis to review feedback and survey data.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Managing relationships with external partners such as Water UK.
• Effective writing skills for reports, social media, and news bulletins.
• Strategic thinker able to link L&D initiatives to business outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Proactive, self‑motivated, and resilient with the ability to manage multiple demands.
• Adaptable to changing priorities.
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Team player who can also work independently.
• Proficient in SharePoint, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Minimum of an A level or equivalent in a natural science related subject.

Desirable:

• Basic knowledge of water quality work would be advantageous but not essential.

Contact and additional information

You will be required to have an incident role and be available to respond to incidents and provide business continuity support. This may attract an additional payment. Full training and workplace adjustments will be provided. Further details are in the candidate pack.
The location for this role is flexible and you will be able to work from home and/or a local office. The role will require some travel to other Environment Agency sites, external meetings, and occasional overnight stays.
If you would like to know more about the role, please contact [e-mail]
Interviews will be held using MS Teams during April 2025.

Competence 1 Achieving effective results

Description PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.
As a Training, Skills and Resilience Advisor, you will be responsible for setting up and running short learning sessions for the whole of the water department and leading your own L&D programmes of work. Describe a time when you had to work on a particular outcome to achieve a successful result.

• Why did you set yourself this goal?
• How did you plan and prioritise your work to meet your goal?
• What methods did you use to monitor progress?
• What was the outcome?
• What were your learning points and is there anything you would do differently if in a similar position in the future?
• Why are you proud of this achievement?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response.

Competence 2 Uses Initiative

Description PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Takes action before and/or beyond what is required, owning the outcome.
Our training and CPD programmes are continually evolving, and we will need you to take the initiative to develop, improve, and create new programmes. Please describe a time when you have had to take the initiative to deliver a specific outcome despite considerable challenges or obstacles and with limited guidance.
Consider:

• What was the specific outcome you needed to deliver?
• What were the major challenges or obstacles you faced during the process?
• How did you address and overcome these obstacles?
• What was the final result of your efforts?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response.

Competence 3 Influences and Persuades Others

Description PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: 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 continuously be working with team leaders and technical experts to deliver training outcomes and L&D projects. Provide an example of a time when you had to deliver a project and had to win people over and encourage them to get involved and support your project willingly? How did you ensure your approach was successful?
Consider:

• Who were the key stakeholders or team members you needed to convince?
• What specific communication strategies did you use to present your case in a convincing and attractive way?
• How did you build trust and rapport with those involved?
• Did you encounter any resistance or objections? How did you address and overcome them?
• What was the outcome and how did you measure the success of your approach?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response.

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.