Water Quality Officer G4 - Thames - 11092

We are the Environment Agency. We protect and improve the environment. We look after the water environment, land quality, promote sustainable land management and help protect and enhance wildlife habitats. We also work closely with businesses to help them comply with environmental regulations.

Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) works with a range of internal and external customers to deliver key national processes such as the water company price review and river basin management planning. It works directly with partners to achieve significant environmental improvement. It comprises technical experts and a group of externally facing account management teams. It provides timely and effective evidence for the whole business to connect the needs of both national and local customers, to do things “Once” through standard tools and products and to provide efficient and effective solutions to our customers

We are looking for an enthusiastic environmental planner who understands rivers, lakes, groundwater and coastal waters enough to help identify relevant environmental improvements needed. Your background will enable you to quickly grow into a reliable water quality officer with skills to help us influence water quality planning and performance processes

The IEP Team sits within the Environment Planning and Engagement department of Thames Area. It has three core areas of work, Water Resources/Water Quality/Environment planning; which will involve working with area operational teams and national colleagues to drive Thames area priorities including price review, catchment measure modelling, defuse water pollution plans and more.

We’re a team of trusted advisors at the heart of environmental decision making, facilitating integrated actions maximising benefits for people and wildlife

We are seeking an individual with a degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant environmental discipline. This will be coupled with knowledge and understanding that will give you a platform to quickly become an effective water quality planning officer, who supports a broad range of catchment planning processes.

From your experience to date you will be able to demonstrate some of the following:

• experience of delivering environmental improvements using a range of tools;
• a broad range of technical knowledge together with strong interpersonal and team-working skills;
• be proactive, self-motivated and a confident communicator, used to influencing and negotiating to deliver outcomes;
• work as part of a team sharing skills and experience to deliver the best outcomes for the environment
• managing multiple priorities and competing demands
• working & communicating with a range of customers and partners

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 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 Tom Jacklin at tom.jacklin@environment-agency.gov.uk or National Workforce Co-ordination at EANWC@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Interviews will be held in Reading week commencing 01/07/2019

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response

Description: Collects, analyses, interprets, records, manages, develops and shares data, material or information appropriately for a variety of purposes.

Provide an example of when you have managed technical data (e.g. analysis, interpretation) to make an informed decision or produce a report

• What was the technical nature of the data
• How did you sort the relevant from the irrelevant data?
• How did you organise your report to convey the information in the best way?
• How was the data stored for future reference?
• How would you approach a similar situation now?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response

Description: Works co-operatively as part of a team to achieve common goals, especially as part of a dispersed team.

Provide an example of how you have worked either within your own team or with other teams to achieve a common goal, what was the role you played and how did working co-operatively improve the outcome.

• What did the team accomplish that an individual could not?
• What was your role and personal contribution?
• What elements contributed to the success?
• Why was it successful?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response

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

Working with a wide range of customers with varying levels of technical knowledge, requires the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately. You will be expected to communicate and engage with others effectively through speech and writing.

Please describe when you have used your communication skills effectively to convey information and ideas clearly to others

What was the subject matter?
• What method of communication did you use?
• How did you go about making sure that your message was understood by all recipients?
• How did you check their understanding?
• What was the result?

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Making sure that your own behaviour and the way you work reduces risks to the environment.
Displays good working knowledge of current environmental rules, procedures and practice applicable to the role and tasks performed

In the Integrated Environmental Planning teams we work across many areas of the business with an aim to identify environmental improvements. Please give an example of a scheme or project you have been involved with where Water Quality data has been key in providing detailed information in order to achieve a successful outcome.

• Describe the scheme or project
• Explain the type of data being collected and what analysis you performed
• How did you use this data to inform the project
• Did you have any challenges to overcome
• What was the overall outcome of the project

You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response