Partnership and Strategic Overview Team leader - Coast and Engagement team - 34410

Partnership and Strategic Overview Team leader - Coast and Engagement team - 34410
1
South West
Blandford Forum , Bridgwater , Bristol
DEFRA GRP EA HORIZON HOUSE, BS1 5AH, DEFRA GRP EA RIVERS HOUSE BLANDFORD, DT11 8SA, DEFRA GRP EA RIVERS HOUSE BRIDGWATER, TA6 4YS
Staff Grade 6
Fixed Term
Senior Leadership
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Compressed Hours
£54,940 Pro-rata

14/05/2026, 23:55 hours

PC06 Partnerships & Customers, Grade 6

Basic Check

You will:

  • Be responsible for a team, providing leadership, direction and prioritising delivery of reputational, political and / or technically complex partnering or customer facing activities.
  • Recruit, motivate and develop team members to ensure effective delivery of operational and regulatory activities. Ensures appropriate skill levels are developed and maintained and team performance is optimised in line with team goals.
  • Lead the delivery of specialised advice and guidance and / or effective implementation of partnering or customer facing activities.
  • Manage health, safety & wellbeing matters by actively promoting awareness and good practice, and ensuring the provision of safe working practices in line with Environment Agency guidance.
  • Promote inclusion by respecting differences in our workforce and works to build a supportive and engaging workplace.
  • Influence and negotiate across disciplines. Required to flex communication style and deliver tough messages when necessary.
  • Work individually or through others to deliver results on time, to required quality standards and cost, to fulfil the business plan and achieve or support environmental goals.
  • Understand, interpret and communicate the role of the Environment Agency broadly, and maintain understanding of external partners and customers, their needs and manage expectations.

Plan, monitor, control and prioritise resources and budgets to ensure that all activities are completed efficiently and to time and budget.

The team has two strands of focus:

Coastal- responsible for developing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with across numerous strategic partners including communities, businesses and coastal Local Authorities. Providing expert advice and guidance, helping identify flood risk and finding the most appropriate and cost-effective solutions, advising on everything from funding, planning advice and permitting issues, GIS mapping and community engagement.

Flood engagement- the team leads the co-ordination of community engagement and works with professional partners to raise the flood resilience of communities in the face of a changing climate. 

You’ll join our Partnership and Strategic Overview Coast and flood engagement Team. We lead on developing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with a range of strategic partners including communities, businesses and Local Authorities across the coastal areas of Wessex.

We’re a dispersed team and work with a wide range of technical and project teams across the Wessex area.

We’re part of Local Operations.

Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will be complimented by your enthusiasm and drive to achieve results, and to lead and coach others to do the same in a safe environment with well-being at the forefront of everything you do. In addition, you should have:

  • A good understanding of the key issues relating to long term, sustainable Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
  • The ability to translate strategies and policy into plans and programmes for delivery
  • Experience of leading teams
  • Experience of delivering results through others
  • Coaching and mentoring experience
  • Experience of working with internal and external partners to help deliver the outcomes of a specific function, project, or team, to time, cost and quality
  • Evidence of having demonstrated political awareness and sensitivity when dealing with external customers
  • A full UK driving licence

You’ll have an EA Office base location within Wessex Area.

We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.

Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact *hiring manager’s email* nova.goundrill@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.

Interviews will be held face to face (Bridgwater office) or virtually, before the end of May.

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.

Up to 31st March 2027
Leads People
Definition: Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency

Question: Describe how you tailored your leadership style to motivate different people.
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Definition: Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses

Question: Give an example of a time when you have had to balance the needs of various customers with conflicting priorities.
Delivers Results Through Others
Definition: Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.

Question: Give an example of delegating responsibility to deliver tangible results while managing overall risk and maintaining oversight.
Full UK Driving Licence
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.