Reference: 29497
Location: Farnham, London, Reading, Wallingford, Welwyn Garden City
Grade: Staff Grade 7
Post Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time/Job Share
We are seeking an experienced leader to manage a new department focused on enhancing water company regulation. This team will work directly with Thames Water, while collaborating with national and local colleagues.
The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the water industry, including its assets and environmental impacts, gained through relevant experience in operational or regulatory roles. You will oversee the effective delivery and assurance of regulatory functions for a sector with nationally and politically significant sites.
In this role, you will lead a department of regulatory teams, each managed by a Team Leader and comprising officers with diverse skills, including a Principal Regulatory Officer. You will guide these teams in deploying resources to achieve the best environmental outcomes and lead the development of the regulatory strategy for Thames Water, advising the Deputy Director.
This role will be externally facing, requiring strong relationship-building and a detailed understanding of Environment Agency partners and key stakeholders. You must be adept at addressing critical environmental issues and understanding the strategic needs of the water company.
As a leader, you will mentor your staff through cultural and business transformations, promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity. Responsibilities include ensuring team health, safety, and wellbeing, supporting professional development, and managing workflows to meet future needs. You will balance the work within your team to focus on areas that deliver the greatest environmental benefit.
At the Environment Agency, we aspire to foster a workforce where inclusivity thrives. We embrace equal opportunities and flexible work arrangements, ensuring everyone can contribute and succeed. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will also be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
The team
You’ll join a newly formed team reporting to the Deputy Director. As part of the leadership team, you’ll provide strategic direction, influencing and shaping thinking across the wider business to deliver agile and effective regulation..
We’re a friendly, dispersed team that values collaboration and innovation.
Regular travel is required within Thames Water’s operational boundary. We welcome flexible working but your base location will be either Wallingford, Farnham, Reading, London or Welwyn Garden City.
Skills & experience
We are seeking candidates with a degree in an environmental discipline or equivalent relevant experience.
You should possess a strong strategic mindset, with the ability to align water company initiatives with environmental objectives, anticipate trends, and identify opportunities for intelligence-driven regulation to maximise environmental outcomes.
Additionally, you should be able to demonstrate:
Contact & additional information
We would love to inspire you to apply. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at regulationresourcing@environment-agency.gov.uk
The closing date for applications is Sunday 6th October, with interviews expected be held w/c 21st October.
Please note you will be required to take on an incident role to help us effectively respond to incidents, or to provide business continuity support during an incident. These incident roles may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you. We have many different incident roles available, and we will work with you to ensure we find something that works for you.
We advertise a starting salary but unfortunately, this figure is not negotiable at this time.
We work to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development.
EA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
We employ around 10,600 people throughout England in a variety of roles including:
There are a range of benefits available when you work with us.
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