External Affairs Officer - 31808 (1 x Permanent / 2 x Fixed Term Contract)

The Environment Agency is fully committed to having an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it - for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.

Are you looking to develop a career in external affairs? Do you have strong communication and organisational skills?

We have 3 External Affairs Officer post available:

- 1 x Permanent contract
- 2 x Fixed Term Contracts / Assignments until 31/03/2026

Our External Affairs team is transforming the way Environment and Business (E&B) engages across the Directorate, the wider organisation, and with external stakeholders, government, partners, and the media. The E&B Directorate supports the Environment Agency’s (EA’s) vision by developing better ways to deliver environmental outcomes and improvements. Using evidence and innovation, our expert teams secure resources, influence policy and legislation, and enhance delivery for a better environment.

As an External Affairs Officer, you will co-ordinate and evaluate the team’s work while leading your own strategic communications and engagement projects. You will be adaptable, supporting our leadership’s priorities across the breadth of E&B’s work.

With strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, the ability to work under pressure, and the confidence to engage with people at all levels, you will help promote the work of the Environment Agency to a wide range of audiences, including the public, key stakeholders, and government.

You'll join our E&B External Affairs team. We lead on advising and influencing our directorate on building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and organisations; strengthening our voice and influence so that our work is better known, trusted, and has greater impact.

We use evidence, expertise, engagement, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation, and secure resources.

In E&B we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued.

In your capability-based answers please demonstrate that you:

- have a positive, proactive, and hard-working attitude
- have experience of developing, delivering, and evaluating communication and engagement plans
- can advise and influence others on building and maintaining stakeholder relationships (desirable)
- are highly organised, flexible, and able to deliver quickly in a fast-paced environment
- have strong communication skills and work well in a diverse, dispersed team
- have experience of engaging and communicating with a range of internal and external stakeholders
- have strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- can work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work.

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

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. #LI-DNI R

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

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 evie.challis@environment-agency.gov.uk.

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

Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of 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.

Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans
willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Give an example of a time when you had to influence a team member to gain their support/buy-in.

- What was the issue under discussion?
- What approach did you take?
- What difficulties did you encounter?
- What was the outcome?
- What did you learn from this?”

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.

More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.

Feedback is generally not available at sift stage

Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

What is your preferred method of communication at work?

- Why is that?
- Give us an example of when this approach has worked well.
- What obstacles might this approach present?
- How would you adapt your approach to suit your audience?”

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and
resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Tell us about a time when you had to take responsibility for delivery of a key business objective or project deliverable.

- What did you have to take personal responsibility for?
- Why was this so important?
- How did you ensure the objective was achieved?”

Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.

Tell us about a time when you have been unable to deliver the best standard of service for your customers.

- Why was this?
- How did you rectify the situation?
- How did you keep your customers updated with progress?
- What would you do differently in the future to prevent this happening again?”