Nutrients Senior Advisor - 34183

Nutrients Senior Advisor - 34183
1
National
All
Staff Grade 6
Permanent
Environment & Sustainability
Full Time, Part Time
£54,940

31/05/2026, 23:55 hours

AS06 Job Family Role Profile Advise & Shape, Grade 6

Basic Check

We are recruiting a senior advisor within our national Nutrients team to develop the Environment Agency’s understanding and response to one of the biggest pressures on the water environment – nutrients.  This is an important and exciting role at the heart of how we enable improvements to water quality that deliver better climate resilience, sustainable growth and nature recovery.

Our evidence tells us that current approaches to nutrient management are not enough, so we are embarking on a journey to rethink how we tackle problems associated with excess nutrients. We need a high performing, motivated individual to help us shape a joined-up future for nutrient management across all our functions.

This role will help ensure the Environment Agency can deliver commitments under our corporate strategy (EA2030), the Environment Improvement Plan and statutory duties.  You will champion a cohesive approach to managing the entire, interlinked nitrogen and phosphorus cycles to reduce nutrient waste and imports, improve reuse within the system, and support sustainable growth.  Your expertise and advocacy will increase the prospects for circular approaches to nutrient management to be embedded as part of regulatory reform. 

Key responsibilities

  • Provide expert advice on nutrients, through bringing together teams covering water industry, agriculture, industry and impacts on air, land and water
  • Develop our organisational approach to holistic sustainable nutrient management, building on circular economy principles
  • Drive innovative approaches to take a more sustainable approach to nutrient management
  • Shape legislation, policy and guidance to embed a circular approach to nutrient management, including through emerging proposals for the new water regulator
  • Collaborate on key planning frameworks including river basin planning, water company investment, and with teams covering agriculture, waste management and industrial regulation
You will join the Nutrients and Nature Recovery team, which is part of Team Water in the Environment and Business directorate.  We are a small, friendly, dispersed team which provides strategic leadership on nutrients and has responsibility for the diffuse water pollution plan programme and growth policies relating to nutrients, such as nutrient neutrality.  We meet face to face, normally quarterly, and aim to provide a supportive, inclusive culture where everyone feels valued.

We are looking for a proactive, self-motivated candidate who combines strategic thinking with strong delivery.  You will have experience of working in or with national teams and be looking for a new challenge.  You will:

  • Have an excellent track record of delivery of complex programmes of work and experience of working with colleagues at a senior level
  • Be comfortable working with uncertainty and excel at developing innovative approaches. You won’t mind challenging the norm
  • Have a good understanding of the different sectors responsible for nutrient management and the various legislation and policies that govern nutrients in England
  • Have excellent networking and communication skills, and experience of uniting diverse perspectives to achieve a common goal
  • Have managed complex programmes of work and know how to set up work programmes
  • Have experience of engaging with Defra or other government departments and a successful track record of influencing policy decisions

You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs.

You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible.

Any queries, contact Michelle Ellershaw, Nutrients and Nature Recovery Manager, michelle.ellershaw@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.  We suggest you follow the STAR format in answering the questions. 

Interviews will be held via MS Teams approximately 2-3 weeks after 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.

If many applications are received, an initial sift using the first capability may be conducted. 

Shapes organisational approach & delivery
Shapes organisational approach and delivery

Question: Please tell us about a time when you worked across multiple teams, departments or organisations to inform or shape policy and to support its translation into practical delivery. What was your role, how did you influence the approach taken, and what impact did this have on outcomes?
Influences and Persuades Others
Question: Describe a time when you successfully influenced a key stakeholder to change their position on a major project or piece of work. How did you approach this, why did you choose that approach, and what was the outcome in terms of actions or behaviours?
Achieves Results
Question: Please describe a time when you overcame significant challenges within a complex project or piece of work to successfully deliver high quality results. What obstacles did you face, how did you address them and what was achieved?
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Question: Describe a time where you have actively sought an opportunity to make an improvement in an area of your work. What approach did you take and what benefits did it bring?
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.