Water Quality Officer - 34433

Water Quality Officer - 34433
1
South West
Chichester , Pevensey, Romsey , Worthing
DEFRA GRP EA CHICHESTER OFFICE, PO20 2AG, DEFRA GRP EA PEVENSEY OFFICE, BN24 6ND, DEFRA GRP EA ROMSEY OFFICE, SO51 8DU, DEFRA GRP WORTHING TEVILLE GATE HOUSE, BN11 1UR
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Environment & Sustainability
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Compressed Hours
£34,320

08/06/2026, 23:55 hours

ER04 Job Family Role Profile Environment & Regulation, Grade 4

Basic Check

Water is the heart of all we do, drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health. Our environment and economy depend on this precious resource. 

Clean water is essential and as water becomes an increasingly important resource we need to ensure that it can provide the functions we require of it. 

We have an exciting opportunity for you to play your part in improving bathing waters in the beautiful and diverse environments of the Solent and South Downs. 

We need your knowledge and experience to help manage the quality of our bathing waters to ensure they are fit for swimming. 

If you're passionately committed to the environment, one who sees the risks, understands what needs to be done and can work closely with those who hold the key to change, you can ensure our water environment functions for nature and society. 

You'll work closely with national policy and process, area delivery and key customers on aspects of strategic planning, incident management and local action on the ground. 

From water company investment programmes to land management from moors to coasts. We need someone to plan our response to current pressures and future demands. 

Can you help? 

You’ll join a team of environment planners who focus predominantly on water quality and Water Framework Directive activities in the Solent and Downs area. You'll work alongside a dispersed team and with operational teams, national colleagues and water companies. The team collates, analyses and shares data to produce environmental evidence that informs and drives area priorities.

Please demonstrate in your capability-based answers: 

  • Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work

The skills and experience we are looking for include: 

  • Good knowledge and/or experience of (or ability to learn about) water quality planning and ecology 
  • Ability or experience with technical conversations with both internal and external partners
  • Political awareness to deliver the right service when dealing with customers and stakeholders
  • The ability to work collaboratively with other teams
  • The ability to articulate solutions to problems in a simple, engaging way
  • Good judgment, problem solving and decision making skills 
  • Good planning skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and deliver to tight timescales.
  • Water quality modelling experience or aptitude to learn
  • GIS mapping skills or aptitude to learn

We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required. 

Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact Matthew.Murphy@environment-agency.gov.uk
 
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. 
 
Interviews will be held face-to-face at our Worthing office within two weeks of the closing date.
 
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post. 

Scientific Knowledge
Applies scientific knowledge (various disciplines, depending on team role) to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.

QUESTION HERE:
In this role you will be dealing with complex scientific issues and concepts relating to water quality and its effect on the environment. Tell us how you can use your scientific knowledge to fulfill the duties of this role.
Achieves Results
Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results

QUESTION HERE:
In this role you will be supporting colleagues to provide evidence to other areas of the business to help improve the water quality in the Solent and South Downs area. For example, role will support the team’s work to ensure that water companies develop and implement projects to make improvements to the environment. The role will also support the team in identifying priority areas for improvement.

Describe a time when you have delivered a piece of work, setting high standards; meeting targets and prioritising and organising tasks to ensure timely and effective achievement of results.
Manages Self
Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency.

QUESTION HERE:
In this role you will be supporting team members on a variety of topics and tasks but will have a fair degree of autonomy.

Please describe how you go about managing yourself to ensure you can meet multiple deadlines.
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.