Water Resource Specialist - 32238

Water Resource Specialist - 32238
2
East Midlands
Nottingham
DEFRA GRP EA TRENTSIDE OFFICE, NG2 5FA
Staff Grade 5
Permanent
Administration / Corporate Support, Analytical, Environment & Sustainability
Full Time
£43,198

17/11/2025, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
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. As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve and continue to develop diversity throughout our workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religion.

If you are enthusiastic about our water environment and want to have a lasting impact on water availability whilst ensuring it is protected and enhanced for future generations then you’ll want to be part of the Environment Agency.

We are looking for an initiative-taking individual with experience of water resource planning to help us to manage and respond to the demands on the water environment in the East Midlands.

As a Water Resource Specialist in the East Midlands, you will:
• be jointly responsible for the local delivery of the water resources service.
• influence and support the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) and associated water company plans.
• build and support productive and influential relationships with internal and external customers, including water companies.
• contribute to the coordination of drought planning and response.
• lead and/or give specialist advice to local and national working groups and projects.

Collaborating with colleagues and partners, you will seek the best solutions to environmental problems and advise on the regulatory requirements that will help to create a better place for people, wildlife, and businesses.
The Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) team is predominantly a water planning team with specialists in water resources, water quality and catchment planning.

Working with area operational teams and national colleagues, we commission, analyse and share data, and produce the environmental plans that inform and drive East Midland’s area priorities.
Our friendly team of advisors are at the heart of environmental decision making, facilitating integrated actions to solve complex problems.
The ideal candidate will be qualified to degree level or higher in an environmental discipline and have knowledge and experience of:
Strategic water resource environment planning tools and techniques

Good research/analysis skills, supporting an ability to make proportionate, evidence-based inferences/proposals from information.

Experience of gathering, maintaining and quality-assuring data/information.

Good organisational skills/discipline and the ability to prioritise, plan, track, deliver and evaluate work.

Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a larger, cross-functional/multidisciplinary team

Ability to build and maintain productive and influential relationships with internal and external customers including water companies

Sensitive to the needs of the internal and external customers and able to deliver outcomes through these.

Ability to coach and mentor others to improve resilience within the team.
It will also be advantageous (but not essential) to have additional skills in a related technical discipline such as water resource modelling, hydrology and/ or permitting.
Interviews will take place face-to-face in Nottingham during early December.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jennifer Marriott: Jennifer.marriott@environment-agency.gov.uk

Base location at Nottingham with flexibility for hybrid working in agreement with line manager.

Travel to other EA offices/overnight stays may be required.

This role is being advertised as a permanent full-time position; however part-time working opportunities would also be considered.

Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises, having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and is an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack.
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

Please describe a time when you delivered successfully in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles and with limited instruction
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

In this role you will be required to take decisions and solve problems as a matter of course – sometimes related to processes we use and sometimes in relation to technical data. Tell us about a time when you have had to co-ordinate information from a variety of sources to solve a difficult technical problem.
Influences and Persuades Others
Presents 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.

The work we do helps the Environment Agency and abstractors make decisions about water resources management. We need to be great influencers to get others to deliver based on our evidence. Can you describe a time when you have successfully influenced key players to deliver to agreed deadlines.
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses

Within the Environment Agency we regularly need to anticipate and balance the needs of a range of customers with conflicting priorities. Can you describe a time when you have disagreed with a customer but managed to maintain a good relationship and achieve a good outcome?
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.