Maintenance Planner for Field Operations (Specialist Team Member) - 32468

Maintenance Planner for Field Operations (Specialist Team Member) - 32468
1
London
London
DEFRA GRP EA THAMES BARRIER, SE7 8LX
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Health and Safety, Operational Delivery
Full Time
£34,320

12/01/2026, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
The Environment Agency works to create better places for people, wildlife, and supports sustainable development.

As a Specialist Team Member you’ll help plan, coordinate, and manage the delivery of our flood asset management programme and emergency response work. This is a vital role that is key to maintaining the flood resilience of our local communities.

Responsibilities include:
- Preparing risk management documentation
- Ensuring programmed works are delivered within budget and published timelines
- Managing contractors
- Active monitoring to ensure works are being completed safely as planned, motivating staff when needed
- Provide leadership on Health & Safety and Wellbeing, ensuring that delivery work is being conducted safely and sites comply with our policies.
- Depot compliance.

As a Category 1 Responder during instances of flooding and other environmental incidents, you’ll help to lead our operational response to flood and environment incidents by participating, and training in an incident role. You’ll identify, organise, and coordinate training to test our incident response plans. This will include communicating with customers, landowners, partners, and members of the public. You’ll be on a standby rota that will attract additional standby payments and potential overtime. Our response can be called upon 24hrs a day 365 days a year and you will be expected to take your place on a rota for this once trained.

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.
Our diverse team sits within FCRM (Flood and Coastal Risk Management) Field Operations Department in Local Operations.

We carry out an annual maintenance programme on our rivers and watercourses in South London, the predominate area includes the London Boroughs of Bromley, Beckenham, Lewisham & Greenwich. This can be in channel weed cutting, grass cutting, asset management and small-scale construction works.

We also respond to incidents, such as flooding, environmental and pollution, both day and night.
You should show a positive, adaptable approach and a ‘can do’ attitude as a committed team player. You will need to be well organised; you will need good communication skills to work with customers and partners.

You will also need to demonstrate the following:
- Excellent leadership and a passion for motivating teams.
- Experience of managing contractors and working with external partners
- Experience of delivering work by planning, tracking and maintaining data/information
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and demands
- Excellent communication skills
- Confidence in using IT is essential as well as a willingness to learn the use of our inhouse systems
- An understanding of Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015 would be beneficial
- An enthusiasm and willingness to learn
- Full UK driving licence

All the necessary training to undertake the role will be provided including externally recognised qualifications.
The role will be based in the South London Field Team Depot, Unity Way, London, SE18 5NJ, and interviews will be held there at the end of January.

You will be expected to travel to work sites around South East London and other EA offices/depots. A vehicle is currently available for you to use for business travel.

This role attracts Inner London Weighting and additional payments for overtime, being on standby and taking part in a duty roster. Other benefits include a generous leave allowance, pension scheme, mobile phone, and Laptop for business purposes. See the candidate pack for more information.

For further details please do contact Andy Robinson who will happily discuss the role further via andy.robinson123@environment-agency.gov.uk
Health Safety & Wellbeing
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses. You have up to 250 words so please do use them to tell us what we need to know about you. See Candidate pack for more details and a link to our capability dictionary. You may find it helpful to research the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach when formulating your response.

Describe the risks posed in managing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of a field-based team.
- What actions would you take to ensure you reduce your own risk?
- What action would you take to ensure you reduce the risk of those around you?
Communicates Effectively
Tell us about a time you when you had to deal with a difficult conversation with a member of the public or a member of your team.
- What was the issue?
- What method of communication did you use?
- How did you go about making sure that your message was understood?
- How did you check their understanding?
- What was the result?
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Tell me about a time when you have made an important work decision in a short time.
- Why was it important?
- What factors did you consider?
- What problems did you encounter?
- What was the outcome?
Full UK Driving Licence - Eligibility for lease cars is made based on the role and this role does NOT qualify. Internal candidates ensure you check the lease car policy and consider its impact before applying.
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.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.