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 EA's 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, aligning 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 strategy and standards, and play a leading role in enabling strategic change, including new operating models. You will represent FCRM on EA's Transformation Delivery group, coordinating all transformation and significant change across EA.
DDE is a newly established team, and you will need to embed recent changes, set the vision, develop service plans, establish team identity, and develop a high-performing team.
Responding to flood or environmental incidents is a central part of our work. You will be required to have an incident role and be available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract additional payment, full training, and alternative working arrangements to support 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
Essential:
* 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 organizational strategies
* Expertise in communicating and engaging effectively within a large, complex organization, including technical communication
* Expertise in influencing senior leaders and colleagues in various situations
* Experience developing new, high-performing teams and leading through change in times of uncertainty and ambiguity
* Experience creating an open, inclusive, and trusting culture
* Effective management of large and/or constrained budgets
* Proven success in establishing or managing large complex projects, programs, and/or portfolios
* Experience making strategic decisions that balance risk and reward in challenging, 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. Some national travel is required mainly to London, Birmingham, and Bristol, as well as other EA locations. Travel is planned in advance, with overnight stays as needed.
For further information, contact: paige.stevenson@environment-agency.gov.uk
Closing date: Sunday, 27 July 2025
Candidate assessments will take place in person at Mary Ward House, St Pancras, London, on 20th & 21st August 2025.
We will run a virtual briefing session for applicants interested in the role on Friday, 18 July 2024, from 10-11 am. Email: paige.stevenson@environment-agency.gov.uk for invitations.
Additional notes
If applying from the Civil Service, note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you will not be a Crown Servant if appointed. You may not be eligible for continuous service. If you work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you might be eligible for continuous service for redundancy calculations. Contact your HR for clarification.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working, including job sharing. Please specify your preferred working arrangements in your application.
We guarantee an interview for applicants with a disability meeting the minimum criteria.
The Environment Agency uses government frameworks for external 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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