Overview
We’re looking for an experienced and inspirational leader to lead the National Environmental Assessment Service (NEAS). NEAS focuses on enabling the environmental agency to deliver its capital and asset management programmes in line with environmental legislation, policies and corporate priorities. You will manage several strategic portfolios, lead your team through change and ensure day-to-day delivery in effectively prioritised and delivered outcomes. We’re looking for an inclusive, collaborative, and driven leader who can lead teams through change while enabling and supporting a diverse workforce to thrive and deliver to the highest standards. As well as being an experienced leader, you will have experience in project delivery in conformance with environmental legislation, policies and strategies. You will have a proven track record of working closely with and influencing senior leaders, industry experts, delivery partners, and external stakeholders, achieving mutually beneficial outcomes at a strategic level.
Principal responsibilities
* Lead a team of circa 45 staff who are technical experts in environmental legislation, heritage, carbon, landscape architecture and biodiversity net gain.
* Lead proactive stakeholder management to build trust, foster strong relationships and create opportunities for collaboration.
* Set strategic priorities aligned to the broader EA strategy and motivate your team to deliver efficiently.
* Lead, develop and embed a culture of continuous improvement to optimise and support changing business, environmental and stakeholder needs.
* Foster a culture of psychological safety that empowers confident decision making and enables innovation.
* Plan and deliver change within your team and cross‑functional relationships amid ongoing internal and external change programmes.
The team
You will join the Environmental Assurance & Reservoir Regulation (EARR) Department, part of the Flood & Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Directorate. NEAS is a nationally dispersed team of 140+ skilled people. We ensure that capital and operational strategies and projects navigate environmental complexities efficiently. You will work alongside two other Managers to ensure close collaboration and unified leadership.
Experience / skills required
* Significant experience in project delivery, environmental legislation, environmental policy or related areas relevant to Environmental Assessment.
* Significant experience leading technical teams, translating strategy into operational delivery.
* Ability to drive a high‑performance team culture, act as a role model of personal accountability, facilitate psychological safety and prioritise people over process.
* Innovative thinker with a drive for new collaborations and better use of data.
* Confident in taking risk‑based, proportionate decisions at pace and removing barriers to delivery.
* Comfort operating in uncertainty and articulating complex issues clearly to senior internal and external colleagues.
* Ability to build consensus and influence internal and external senior stakeholders to benefit the environment and the business.
Contact and additional information
We aspire to an inclusive, diverse workforce and welcome flexible working arrangements. The team is nationally dispersed with some travel and occasional overnight stays; hybrid working is supported. All joiners are required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when needed. Please download the candidate pack for full details including how to apply. For more information, contact the recruiting manager Lee Meaden at lee.meaden@environment-agency.gov.uk. Assessments will take place on Microsoft Teams in the week commencing 29 September, and will include a panel interview and a staff engagement exercise.
EEO and policies
We are committed to equal opportunities and flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. The Environment Agency is a Non‑Departmental Public Body and participates in Central Government frameworks for recruitment. Details about becoming a supplier are available on gov.uk.
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