Strategic Financial Mechanisms Manager - 8799

This is a unique opportunity to head up a growing team who will lead our approach to securing new and innovative sources of investment in the environment.

With a changing climate and a growing population, the risks from flooding, coastal erosion, drought and environmental degradation are always increasing. The Environment Agency is responsible for many of these issues, and we need to secure more external investment to keep people safe and leave the environment in a better state for the next generation.

A new role in this developing area of our business, this role will lead our efforts to secure innovative sources of investment, such as:
- Unlocking investment in the environment from development and economic growth
- Identifying possible levies or taxes to respond to environmental pressures
- Exploring options for upfront finance for the environment, such as Green Bonds
- Working with mayors, large cities and growth areas to secure investment in environmental infrastructure
- Identifying opportunities for co-investment with other infrastructure providers, such as water companies and rail and highways providers.

You will be involved in some of the largest and most high profile places that the Environment Agency works in, such as the Cambridge-Milton Keynes-Oxford corridor.

The role sits within the Future Funding Function of the Environment and Business directorate, reporting to the Deputy Director for Economics and Social Science, but operates across the organisation. The role will head up a small team (two direct reports) who will support in delivery of the organisational wide approach to securing sources of investment.

We are looking for someone who combines outstanding engagement and influencing skills with strong technical and numeracy skills. You will be an effective negotiator with experience of working on large funding or investment deals. You may have a background in finance, consultancy, the public sector, or the environmental or utilities sectors, but it is your skills and financial acumen, rather than your sector-specific knowledge, which will set you apart.

Essential skills and experience:
- Experience of working on funding for large projects
- Thorough knowledge of the financial investment sector, in particular social and ethical investments
- Innovative self-starter who takes initiative
- Good engagement and influencing skills, comfortable in negotiations
- Strong numeracy and financial skills

Desirable:
- Knowledge of infrastructure, utilities and property development industries
- Knowledge of environmental regulation and investment
- Knowledge of local growth, local authorities and economic development
- Understanding of financial markets

As a national role, location is flexible but must be office based. Travel to other Environment Agency offices may be required as part of the role.

Closing date for applications: 9th September 2018 at 23:55 hours
Assessments for this role will take place during mid/late September 2018.

For an informal discussion about the role contact, Andrew Sissons, on Tel. 07827956635.

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.

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

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