Deputy Director Digital, Data & Evidence - 31387
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Job Description
With the climate and biodiversity crisis, weather extremes and challenges to water quality and supply, the Environment Agency’s (EA) work is more critical than ever. This is the most interesting and important time to be a Deputy Director within our Flood Risk Directorate (FCRM).
We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, strong leader to lead our Digital, Data and Evidence (DDE) team, delivering essential technical services including:
* Digital services to help the public understand flood risk
* Digital services to support EAs asset management
* Flood risk modelling and hydrology supporting services that enable teams across the business to better understand flood risk, manage flood assets and respond to incidents and land use planning.
* Data management and data improvements for FCRM
You will set the direction for service design and delivery, in line with strategies and standards set by EA strategy teams and Defra Digital, Data, Technology and Security (DDTS). You and your teams will use your expertise to inform and influence strategy and standards, and you will play a leading role in enabling strategic change including new operating models. You will represent FCRM on EAs Transformation Delivery group that co-ordinates all transformation and significant change across EA.
DDE is a newly established team, and you will need to embed the recent changes, set the vision, develop the service plans, establish the team identity and develop a high performing team.
Responding to flood or environmental 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.
The team
You’ll report to the Director of Innovation, Systems and Services (ISS) within the Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate (FCRM). There are over 400 staff in this cross-cutting service.
Your team (DDE) comprises 120 multi-disciplinary technical specialists with a range of experience. The team is geographically dispersed across England. This is a new team formed in February 2025 following a restructure of FCRM Directorate.
You’ll have eight direct reports (seven managers and one personal assistant)
Experience/skills Required
* Demonstrable awareness, interest and experience of managing digital, data and or evidence based services
* Significant experience leading large, multi-disciplinary technical teams delivering services to a wide customer base
* Experience setting strategic direction and aligning services with organisational strategies
* Expertise at communicating and engaging effectively within a large, complex organisation including communicating technical information
* Expertise at influencing senior leaders and colleagues in a range of situations.
* Experience developing new and high performing teams and leading teams through change in times of uncertainty and ambiguity
* Experience of creating an open, inclusive, and trusting culture
* Effective management of large and/or constrained budgets
* A track record of success in establishing or managing large complex projects, programmes and/or portfolios of work
* Experience making strategic decisions that balance risk and reward in challenging and evolving situations
Desirable
* Relevant qualifications, certifications and/or professional accreditation
* Good understanding of digital product development practices including Agile
Contact and additional information
You can be based at any Environment Agency office with home working available under EA’s current working practices. Some national travel is required mainly to London, Birmingham and Bristol but also to other EA office locations where your teams will be located. Travel is planned in advance and overnight stays will be required.
For further information please contact: paige.stevenson@environment-agency.gov.uk
Closing date for applications is: Sun, 27 July 2025
Candidate Assessments will take place in person at Mary Ward House, St Pancras, London on 20th & 21st August 2025
We will be running a virtual candidate briefing session for those interested in applying for the role on Friday, 18 July 2024 from 10-11am. Invitations can be acquired by emailing: paige.stevenson@environment-agency.gov.uk
Note: If applying from the Civil Service, please be aware that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant if appointed. You may be eligible for continuous service if you currently work in local government or other bodies as per the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999. Contact your HR for clarification.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome flexible working arrangements, including job sharing. Please specify your preferred working arrangements in your application.
We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy for applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria.
The Environment Agency uses government frameworks for recruitment and does not engage directly via post, email, or phone. To become a support supplier, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier.
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