Job Description
Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you! This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence our approach to risk management.
We’re offering 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.
Whilst the role is mostly internal facing, there are opportunities to build networks with other Government Departments.
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.
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.
* 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 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. IRM Cert).
* Understanding of other risk-based functions e.g. project/programme management, health and safety.
Contact and 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 some overnight stays. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.
For questions relating to these roles, contact Claire Sunshine (Claire.sunshine@environment-agency.gov.uk). The vacancy closes on 7 November 2025. Interviews are expected to be held w/c 1 December using MS Teams. A call for interested applicants will be held on 23 October at 10:00 – 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.
Competence 1 – Influences and Persuades Others
Provide an example where you have won people over, encouraging them to willingly follow your plan. What were the challenges you faced, and how did you do this?
Competence 2 – Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Describe a time where you identified, created and implemented a new, innovative way of working that improved efficiency.
Competence 3 – Delivers Results Through Others
Describe a time when you have harnessed resources within and outside of your immediate team to deliver complex projects/pieces of work in the face of significant obstacles and challenges.
Competence 4 – Communicates Effectively
Describe an occasion where you have had to distil complex, technical information into clear messages for senior audiences so that they can make decisions.
AI Disclosure
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. The Environment Agency is a non‑departmental public body sponsored by Defra; we subscribe to the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website.
Inclusion & Disability
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
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