Water Quality Principal Officer - Yorkshire Grade 5 - 11108

1
Yorkshire and the Humber
Leeds
Lateral
Staff Grade 5
Permanent
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
Business Management & Improvement, Environment & Sustainability, Governance, Operational Delivery, Analytical
£34,879
We are the Environment Agency. We look after the water environment, land quality, promote sustainable land management and help protect and enhance wildlife habitats working closely with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations.
You will be working with both internal and external customers delivering key national processes and working directly with partners to achieve significant environmental improvement.

Area Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) are a multi-functional team that work across area teams to ensure that the work we do is delivered in an integrated way and that we embrace catchment leadership as an area. You will be joining our IEP team based in Leeds. The work areas we cover are; Water Resources, Water Quality, Regulated Industry, Catchment Planning and Water Framework Directive (WFD).

We are looking for an experienced Water Quality Planner to enable us and water companies to deliver significant environmental improvements in the fresh and marine water environment. It would also be desirable to us if you have a good understanding of water company performance/regulation and/or water quality modelling.
The IEP team is predominantly a water planning team with specialists in water quality, water resources, river basin and catchment planning. A key team feature is their ability to work with other teams and external partners, bringing people together to agree clear direction and facilitate integrated action. The team provides high quality evidence for internal/external partners. The team comprises of experts at the heart of environmental decision making, technically adept; focussed on driving collective delivery.
You will have good knowledge/experience of water quality planning, with a large proportion of that gained through working with water companies. The ability and experience to lead very technical conversations with both internal/external partners.

Essential: A degree in a relevant environmental discipline.
Desirable: Membership of, or working towards a membership of, a relevant professional institute (e.g. CIWEM)

Through your experience to date you will be able to demonstrate some of the following:
• Political awareness/sensitivity to deliver the right service when dealing with customers/stakeholders
• The ability to work collaboratively with other Team Leaders and Managers
• The ability to articulate solutions to problems in a simple, engaging way
• An aptitude for shaping and developing the future capability of this arena including developing a national network.
• Good judgment, problem solving and decision making skills.
• Good planning skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities delivering tight timescales.
To reflecting the diverse communities we serve we welcome applications from people from all walks of life. Everyone starting with the Environment Agency will be welcomed into the team and given all of the training and support you need to succeed. The Environment Agency support flexible working which can be discussed as part of your interview.
The Environment Agency offers a range of employee benefits and opportunities to progress your career via professional training routes including apprenticeships and degree programmes.
For further information, on employee benefits and/or the Environment Agency, please download the candidate pack or contact Claire Dickinson at Claire.dickinson@environment-agency.gov.uk or National Workforce Co-ordination team at EANWC@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Interviews will be held in Leeds week commencing 01/07/2019

30/06/2019, 23:55 hours

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

Description: Understand current and future environmental pressures. Describe objectives and standards to protect the future sustainable use of the environment

Explain a project you have been involved with that delivered a successful environmental outcome or improved the sustainability of an existing asset/water course, via the use and analysis of water quality data

• Explain the situation
• Describe the skills that you used to analyse the situation
• What problems did you have to overcome to resolve the issue
• What technical or legislative knowledge did you use in this situation
• What was the final result
You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response.
Communicates Effectively
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

Description: Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing. Understands the needs of both the technical and management audience.

Whilst working with an external partner or water company, please describe how you have tailored your communication style to meet the requirements of a specific individual or situation:

• Who was the external partner
• How and why did you adapt your style
• How did you gauge it was effective
• What was the outcome
• What did you learn from it?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response
Achieves Results
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

Description: Delivers high standards for own work. Manages expectations and sets a good example to others in delivery of work and wellbeing

Using your experience of delivering water quality projects describe how you have delivered successfully in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles and with limited instruction

• Describe the project
• What were the obstacles
• How were these overcome
• What did you learn
• What was the outcome

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.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.