Sustainable Business Social Equity Senior Specialist – G6 - 20770

It’s an exciting time to join the Environment Agency as we step up our actions to address the climate and nature emergency. We want to do this in a way that fully contributes to a just and fair society, by working in, for and with communities and making all decisions in the context of the relevant social, environmental, and economic factors. We’re looking for someone with a passion for sustainability and driving value through communities, who has knowledge and proven experience in key areas of the social equity agenda, to help deliver this ambition.

Key responsibilities include:
• Recommending/implementing the optimal approach for the EA to take on social equity, including developing delivery plans.
• Reviewing the organisation’s existing social equity policies/processes/procedures - revising and developing these, as appropriate.
• Partnering with key stakeholders to ensure the EA’s credibility with respect to social equity is protected and enhanced, and best practice/learning is shared.
• Providing specialist advice to colleagues to mitigate social equity risks, eg through contract management, and ensure that decisions are technically sound and aligned with the law and EA frameworks.
• Reporting/ communicating progress on EA’s social equity commitments, including commissioning and utilising relevant evidence and data.

The Sustainable Business Team (SBT) is a welcoming one. We are part of the Chief Operating Officer Directorate. Our role is to act as a corporate enabler, supporting colleagues across the EA (Area/Directorate) Defra and our suppliers, to deliver eMission2030, the EA’s sustainability strategy. This strategy encompasses delivery of our ambition to become a net zero organisation by 2030, as well as championing resource optimisation, environmental net gain and benefiting people, wildlife and communities.

Generic requirements are setout in BS06 job profile. The key requirements for this role are:
• Significant experience of the social value and equity agenda - particularly with respect to active community involvement, real living wage, modern slavery, evaluation, PPN 06/20 and the Social Value Act.
• Thorough understanding of how to integrate social equity within a business context and wider sustainability agenda, through sound-judgement/engagement/networking/relationship-building skills.
• Substantial experience of delivering social equity results through others: within large organisations/with local communities/across supply chains.
• Ability to work at pace, in a calm and focussed fashion, within a rapidly changing social equity context, with multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Understanding of how to use data and insight to monitor progress against a goal, and present evidence in the best way to influence key stakeholders.
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience/training. Membership of an appropriate professional association/institute (such as IEMA) is desirable.

The EA is committed to equality of opportunity. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. We support flexible working and will consider applicants wishing to work part-time in this role.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact Jo Murphy (joanne.murphy@environment-agency.gov.uk).

Interviews will likely take place week commencing 7 February 2022.

Sets clear goals and delivers social equity work to high standards. Demonstrates the drive to meet targets.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in 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 NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

Informs corporate policies, processes and procedures on social equity / social value and implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

Harnesses others to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with, or to develop, organisational ways of working, culture, risks and opportunities.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

Takes action before and / or beyond what is required, owning the outcome to make us a sustainable organisation and seeking opportunities to make a greater contribution.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.