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Job Description
The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development – and we want our communications and engagement activities to reflect this.
Job Description
The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development – and we want our communications and engagement activities to reflect this.
We appointed a new Deputy Director for Communications in September 2024 to deliver 4 objectives:
* Strengthen our independent voice
* Unify comms and engagement teams
* Make communications planning and activity more strategic
* Create and deliver a "new" external engagement function.
This is a key role that will drive forward our new external engagement function.
We are looking for a strategic thinker with excellent collaboration and partnership building skills to co-ordinate the work of the External Affairs Directorates. You’ll develop and oversee the launch of an effective External Affairs Strategy by working with others to engage key external influencers. We want to build a network of strong advocates and critical friends which will include civil society organisations, think tanks, private sector organisations, NGO’s, industry bodies, and individual activists.
An important part of this role will be to create a Stakeholder Relations platform to ensure all stakeholders receive the best service from our organisatio n, driving efficiency and consistency. You’ll work with senior leaders across the organisation to ensure alignment and consistency of messages.
Working in partnership with communications colleagues to ensure the External Affairs Strategy is aligned and complimentary to the Communications Strategy is key. As is aligning the organisation on clear positions on key issues relating to the Environment Agency’s work.
You’ll also Identify and facilitate public speaking and opportunities for the Environment Agency’s senior leaders to reach important audiences, managing content, positioning and briefings.
You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents as this is central to what we do. Full training will be available.
The team
People in our new External Engagement Function will be the thought leaders for all Environment Agency external communications and lead with others to develop and execute the organisations external communications strategy.
The team will act as brand guardian and creative lead for the Environment Agency, driving the development and evolution of the organisations tone of voice and visual representation.
The team will work across the organisation to ensure consistency and impact in all we do.
Experience/skills Required
We're looking for someone who has:
Significant experience developing and leading external affairs strategy for complex organisations (private or public sectors)
Proven experience building strategy, mutually beneficial partner with civil society and private sector stakeholders
Significant experience leading high performance cross functional teams
Experience of operating at a senior level, engaging C Suite leaders
Proven experience creating simplicity amid complexity
The skills and knowledge required for this role:
* Good knowledge of the UK’s environmental movements and key actors
* Strong understanding of UK media and political environment
* Creative thinker, with new ideas to challenge the status quo
* Big strategic thinker, with the vision to deliver original and progressive ideas
* Excellent collaboration and partnership building skills
Contact and additional information
We support flexible working hours and practices to help you achieve a good balance between your work life and your personal life. This role can be based at any of our office locations. However, the successful applicant should expect to travel to and work from our offices on a regular basis, in particular London where our senior management team is primarily located. We will be assessing candidates during the week commencing 4th of Aug. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
We are holding a virtual briefing session for people who would like to find out more about this role on 23rd June 2025. If you would like to attend, please email Aishwarya for an invite: Aishwarya.Kadam@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Competence 1
Builds and Sustains Relationships
Description
This competency assesses your ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships. Please provide evidence to demonstrate this competency by answering the following question:
Q. When have you had to deliver work across multiple teams and how did you do this?
Competence 2
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Description
This competency assesses your ability to identify and seize the opportunity to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods or processes and without compromising on quality or accuracy. Please provide evidence to demonstrate this competency by answering the following question:
Q. Describe the most innovative solution to a work issue that you have created and implemented.
Competence 3
Communicates Effectively
Description
This competency assesses your ability to listen and question to understand and engage, and convey information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively. Please provide evidence to demonstrate this competency by answering the following question:
Q. Describe a situation when you have had to integrate the requirements of several important stakeholders into one project or piece of work
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
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, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
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.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
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