Technical Specialist - Great Yorkshire Rivers - 33686

Technical Specialist - Great Yorkshire Rivers - 33686
1
Yorkshire and the Humber
Beverley , Leeds , Rotherham , York
DEFRA GRP BEVERLEY CROSSKILL, HU17 9JB, DEFRA GRP EA LEEDS LATERAL, LS11 9AT, DEFRA GRP EA TEMPLEBOROUGH OFFICE, S60 1YR, DEFRA GRP KINGS POOL, YO1 7PX
Staff Grade 5
Permanent
Environment & Sustainability, Science
Full Time
£43,198

18/06/2026, 23:55 hours

ER05 Job Family Role Profile Environment & Regulation, Grade 5

Basic Check

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Yorkshire Fisheries Team as the Great Yorkshire Rivers (GYR) Technical Specialist.  

 

This role will provide the technical focus for the GYR project working closely with partners and external stakeholders.  The candidate could come from a fisheries or engineering background and will have an interest in delivering fish passage improvements across the county. 

 

We are looking for someone with relevant experience in managing projects in and around rivers. They should have knowledge or specific skills; in fish pass design, hydromorphology, topographical surveying or CDM for example.  

 

They will lead the GYR Technical Working Group to drive technical excellence in barrier removal and other fish passage solutions. Seek to share best practice and develop knowledge in the wider partner community.  

 

The role will be key in developing and implementing a GYR Science and Monitoring Strategy and progressing maintenance standards to secure a lasting legacy for the project.  

 

You will work closely with Yorkshire Water, and who also have dedicated GYR staff. It will be critical to actively maintain relationships with the many local delivery partners and interested parties, as well as building relationships with colleagues across the Environment Agency as the project’s key point of contact for the organisation.  

 

You will be supported to develop and further your specialism qualifications via CPD. 

 

You will have an office base, the role will include travel across Yorkshire for site visits, meetings and collaborative working, some overnight stays may be required.   

 

Responding to incidents is a central to what we do. You will be asked 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 will be available. to support you with your incident role.  

You'll be joining the Yorkshire Fisheries Technical and Geomorphology Team, a friendly and professional group of individuals who work collaboratively to deliver positive environmental outcomes across Yorkshire. We are a welcoming and close-knit team that have regular face to face meet ups and site visits to share knowledge and support each other. 

 

The team is part of the wider Fisheries, Geomorphology and Biodiversity Department (FBG).

We are looking for an experienced, self-motivated individual with great organisational and interpersonal skills to work with partners, and across the organisation.  

 

For this role you should be able to demonstrate the following: 
 

  • Relevant technical knowledge and experience in the field of fish passage (either fisheries or asset construction/management). 
  • Ability to identify and develop good working relationships with key strategic partners/stakeholders. 
  • Project and programme management experience to identify opportunities and any emerging risks. 
  • Be able to work independently and as part of a small team. 
  • Have excellent communication and influencing skills. 
  • Be well organised, computer literate, and able to respond to tight deadlines. 
  • Driving license.  

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

 

You’ll have an EA Office base location, regular travel for site visits, teams meetings and site visits is required.  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 vicky.price@environment-agency.gov.uk 
 
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. 
 
Interviews will be held in person during the week commencing 20th July. 
 
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. 

Customer and Partner Relations
(Please note: More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack. If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview. Feedback is generally not available at sift stage)

Description: Consults and collaborates with Customers and Partners effectively through awareness raising and combined projects, ensuring buy-in to initiatives and the beneficial promotion of the Environment Agency’s duties and policies.

Question: Please provide evidence of when you have had to deliver your work objectives through collaboration with people outside your team or organisation. How did you influence and encourage them and what was the outcome?
Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives, and taking sound and timely decisions.

Question: Please provide an example of when you have had to make a decision in your work based upon complex or conflicting information. How did you make sure your decision was sound, and how did you deal with alternative views or options?
Scientific Knowledge
Definition: Applies scientific knowledge to provide sound, scientific-based evidence to our internal and external customers and partners.

Question: Can you give a relevant example of when you have used evidence to progress a project or inform a decision. How do you determine what information to provide and what was your approach to ensure a positive outcome.
Communicates Effectively
Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately, and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: In this role you’ll be expected to be clear in your written and verbal communication. Whilst reports and presentations must be appropriate for the audience. Give an example of a time when you have had to communicate effectively with variety of colleagues and / or stakeholders.
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.