Overview
The Enforcement Advisory Officer plays a national role supporting the Environment Agency’s statutory functions under the Reservoirs Act 1975. You will lead the resolution of complex non-compliance issues, manage enforcement action, and provide specialist regulatory advice in safety-critical situations. You will act as account manager for undertakers, including water companies, supporting proactive engagement, identifying risk early, and driving compliance through consistent, risk-based interventions.
This is a national role; you can be based at any Environment Agency office. Some travel and overnight stays will be required. All joining colleagues undertake training and participate in incident response duties when needed, as an essential part of supporting communities and environmental safeguarding.
Responsibilities
* Lead high-risk non-compliance casework using the Compliance Action Plan (CAP) model.
* Represent enforcement in account meetings and contribute to the Balmforth Review recommendations and the future Environmental Permitting Regulations regime.
* Liaise with engineers, legal advisors, and other regulators to ensure public safety risks are effectively managed.
* Act as account manager for undertakers, including water companies, enabling proactive engagement and risk-based interventions to drive compliance.
* Engage stakeholders with effective communication, negotiation, and conflict management; take proportionate formal action when required.
* Contribute to a dispersed team of specialists regulating over 2,140 large raised reservoirs across England.
* Interviews and assessments may require travel to different locations; remote or in-person meetings as applicable.
Experience and Qualifications
* Experience managing complex regulatory or enforcement cases with strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
* Ability to analyse legal and technical information, assess risk, and provide sound recommendations for proportionate action.
* Strong written and verbal communication; ability to engage undertakers, engineers, legal advisors, and internal leadership.
* Desirable: knowledge of the Reservoirs Act 1975, enforcement frameworks, public safety regulation, or infrastructure management; familiarity with Balmforth Review recommendations or Environmental Permitting Regulations reform.
* Organised, adaptable, and motivated to deliver results through collaboration and regulatory impact; resilient when faced with challenges.
Selection Process and Competencies
* Competence 1: Influences and Persuades Others — describe a time you influenced someone who initially disagreed with you; use the STAR technique if helpful.
* Competence 2: Communicates Effectively — describe explaining complex information to someone unfamiliar with the topic; tailor your communication approach.
* Competence 3: Achieves Results — provide an example of driving a challenging piece of work to completion and its impact.
* Competence 4: Customer and Partner Relations — give an example of consultation and collaboration with customers or partners to promote EA duties and policies.
Other Information
* We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. Please indicate preferred working arrangements on your application.
* Guaranteed Interview Policy to support candidates with disabilities meeting minimum criteria.
* The EA is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by Defra; for details on civil service status please consult HR.
* Environment Agency is unable to engage by post, email or phone for external recruitment; consider Crown Commercial Service supplier information for framework opportunities.
Artificial intelligence note: AI can support your application, but all content must be truthful and from your own experience. The EA adheres to Civil Service guidance on AI usage.
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