Overview
We are offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced risk professional to lead the implementation of our Risk Management Framework and drive a programme of work that strengthens our risk culture across the organisation. You will work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, providing expert advice and enabling teams to identify, assess, and manage risks with confidence and consistency. Your leadership will help ensure our decisions are informed, our operations resilient, and our people empowered.
Responsibilities
* Champion and maintain our Risk Management Framework, ensuring it aligns with HM Treasury’s Orange Book and meets organisational needs.
* Lead the rollout of consistent risk management processes across the organisation.
* Deliver an annual programme of activities to embed good risk practices and foster a proactive risk culture.
* Provide senior leaders with clear, insightful reporting to support strategic decision-making.
* Build trusted relationships across teams, offering expert advice and constructive challenge.
* Collaborate with other functions (e.g. health & safety, programme management) to integrate risk management into everything we do.
* Coach and support team members, helping them grow and deliver with confidence.
Responding to incidents is a central part of 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.
Team
Our Risk and Assurance Team sits in Strategy, Transformation and Assurance. We set the standards, shape the processes, and provide the tools that help teams make confident, informed decisions. From expert advice to engaging training and practical resources, we support colleagues at every level to manage risk in a way that’s consistent, effective and empowering.
This is a technical leadership role and there may be an opportunity for line management in the future.
Experience/skills Required
* You will need to be an experienced technical leader who has an extensive understanding of risk management gained in a similar role.
* You will also need to have: a comprehensive understanding of the Orange Book and risk management principles including risk governance and assurance.
* a proven track record of successfully implementing and embedding risk management initiatives through collaborative working and delivering through others across multiple teams.
* excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience of providing expert risk advice and engaging with senior leaders on risk management matters.
* the ability to build strong, trusted relationships across all levels whilst challenging firmly and constructively.
* experience of working in a complex and fast paced environment, adapting quickly to changing circumstances and managing competing priorities.
Ideally, you will also have:
* A risk management qualification or relevant professional membership (e.g IRMCert).
* Understanding of other risk-based functions e.g. project/programme management, health and safety.
Contact and additional information
* This is a permanent role. This is a hybrid role; the successful candidate can be based at any Environment Agency office. Some travel will be required to attend national meetings, with some overnight stays. We welcome flexible working patterns including job share.
* For questions, contact Claire Sunshine (Claire.sunshine@environment-agency.gov.uk).
* This vacancy closes on 7 November 2025. Interviews are expected w/c 1 December using MS Teams. We will be holding a call for interested applicants on 23 October at 10:00 to provide more details – please contact riskandassurancepa@environment-agency.gov.uk for call details.
* If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and we may offer you an alternative post.
Competences
* Influences and Persuades Others — Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; describe challenges you faced and how you addressed them.
* Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality — Identifies and seizes opportunities to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods and processes while maintaining quality. Describe a time you implemented a new, innovative way of working that improved efficiency.
* Delivers Results Through Others — Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes. Describe a time you delivered complex projects with resources beyond your immediate team.
* Communicates Effectively — Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information clearly to senior audiences. Describe an occasion where you communicated complex technical information for decision-making.
Note: The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce with flexible working patterns, a guaranteed interview policy for disabled applicants, and clear guidance on AI usage.
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