Water Company Liaison Officer - 34699

We are the Environment Agency. Working with Government, councils, businesses, and communities, we create a better place for people and wildlife. You’ll sit at the heart of our work to transform our planning and regulation of the water industry to improve water company performance.

The Environment Agency’s Water Company Accounts Teams work with water companies and internal local operations and national policy teams, to regulate and report on water company performance. Our teams hold the comprehensive overview of their environmental performance across all activities and strategic plans to influence improvements and future investment at a senior level. We influence water company business planning through Ofwat’s price review process and specific plans such as water resources management plans, drainage and wastewater management plans and pollution incident reduction plans. This is an opportunity to join the North East Account Management Team.

In this role you’ll be responsible for:

• Working with and bringing together operational colleagues as part of a virtual team to influence and improve water company performance and investment
• Developing water company specific action plans
• Tracking water company delivery, such as Water Industry National Environment Programme
• Reporting water company performance and supporting senior engagement through timely and informative briefings
• Working closely with colleagues across the business to support policy development and environmental objectives

We promote a positive, inclusive, supportive culture where everyone feels valued, using evidence, expertise, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation and secure resources.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training, and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

You will need to be highly organised with knowledge of environmental planning and regulation.

You must be an effective communicator building strong working relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders.

Through experience to date you should be able to demonstrate the following:

• A self-starter, motivated to achieve outcomes with an appetite to work collaboratively across teams
• Strong written and spoken communication skills
• Ability to build, develop and sustain new and existing relationships, maintaining effective communication with the team and customers.
• Ability to influence across a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners
• Highly organised and able to manage competing activities
• Ability to manage and present data and information effectively
• Knowledge of the environmental pressures impacting on the water environment

Knowledge and practical experience of water company regulation and/or planning is desirable

You’ll have a range of development opportunities while in the role and appropriate training will be provided.

We are committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We offer an extensive range of employee benefits and the opportunity to progress your career with us via professional training routes such as apprenticeships and degree programmes.  

We welcome flexible working. You will need to be comfortable working virtually via MS teams with a mix of home and office working. Some travel and overnight stays will be required, including face to face meetings with water companies at regular liaison meetings.

For questions relating to this role, please contact Fiona Morris, fiona.morris@environment-agency.gov.uk.