Overview
Senior Managing Lawyer Environmental Regulation (Water) sought to lead and manage a team providing legal support covering environmental regulation and civil litigation in relation to water resources and water quality. The role includes advice on environmental law and regulation, appeals and civil court challenges, including judicial review and injunction applications. You will model the Environment Agency’s leadership behaviours and provide timely, risk-based, high-quality legal advice and litigation coverage in regulation, regulatory appeals and judicial reviews within water and related regulation.
This role is full time or a job share and is designed to deliver full time cover. We welcome flexible working patterns and ask applicants to include any information regarding preferred working arrangements. The team sits within the National and Environmental Regulation Legal Team and advises Area operational staff on site-based regulation.
Responsibilities
* Lead, plan and monitor the strategic direction of the team’s contribution to the delivery of business plans.
* Develop and maintain relationships at management level, providing an intermediate escalation point on legal issues for internal Executive Managers and Managers to anticipate and resolve issues, promoting effective partnership working.
* Own, manage and deliver agreed cross-cutting issues on behalf of Legal and Audit Services.
* Lead a team of Senior Lawyers working on environmental regulation and litigation relating primarily to water quality and resources regulation.
* Provide leadership on and deliver timely, risk-based, high-quality legal advice and litigation covering regulation, regulatory appeals and judicial reviews.
Experience / Skills Required
* Experience of managing and leading people.
* Experience of handling complex technical issues.
* Significant experience advising on one or more of the following areas: judicial review; regulation, civil penalties and appeals to PINs and/or the First and Upper Tribunal; public law.
* Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation or ability to get up to speed rapidly.
* Ability to assimilate a new area of environmental or other law quickly.
* Ability to collaborate with other senior lawyers effectively on cross-cutting issues.
* Ability to write detailed legal briefings for senior and government-level use, and respond to parliamentary questions.
* Confidence and ability to brief orally at director/board/government level.
* Experience of working effectively at a national level and/or with government.
Role Requirements
You will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with a current right to practise in England.
Additional Information
The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; there are considerations regarding continuous service and eligibility for redundancy based on local government or other listed bodies. We encourage a diverse and inclusive workforce and flexible working patterns, including job sharing. There is a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with disabilities whose applications meet the minimum criteria. We cannot engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls for external recruitment; see government guidance for suppliers if applicable.
Locations: Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Peterborough, Warrington, Leeds, Reading. Some travel will be required. Interviews are scheduled for October 2025.
How to apply: Please include information about your preferred working arrangements in your application. For discussion about the role, contact Estelle Palin at estelle.palin@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Seniority and Function
* Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
* Employment type: Full-time
* Job function: Legal
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