Job Description
Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence our approach to risk management. We’re 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.
In this influential role, you’ll 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.
* 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 have an incident role, making yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment; full training will be available to support you with your incident role.
The 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
* Extensive experience as a technical leader in risk management, with a proven track record of implementing and embedding risk management initiatives across multiple teams.
* Comprehensive understanding of the Orange Book and risk governance and assurance principles.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience delivering expert risk advice and engaging senior leaders.
* Strong ability to build trusted relationships across all levels, challenging firmly and constructively.
* Experience working in a complex, fast‑paced environment, adapting quickly to change and managing competing priorities.
* Ideal: a recognised risk management qualification or professional membership (e.g., IRM Certified).
* Understanding of related risk‑based functions such as project/programme management and health & safety.
Additional Information
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 occasional overnight stays. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.
Contact: Claire Sunshine – Claire.sunshine@environment-agency.gov.uk
Application deadline: 7 November 2025. Interviews will be held in early December via MS Teams, and a pre‑interview call will be scheduled on 23 October at 10:00 for interested applicants. If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
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