Job Description
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.
This is a pivotal and high‑impact leadership opportunity ready for someone with a proven track record. You will be responsible for making a success of innovation in the Chief Scientist’s Group (CSG). Based in the Environment and Business (E&B) Directorate, CSG leads on the provision of evidence and expertise to support national policy development and delivery for the Environment Agency.
With a particular focus on monitoring innovation, you will have the experience, pace and determination to turn initial ideas into end‑to‑end proposals that can be tested and then adopted as the new way of doing things operationally. Your leadership will be vital to ensure effective coordination across the EA, particularly between national and local teams, and across science, policy and operations.
You will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of an innovation pipeline for the Chief Scientists Group. By ensuring our research and development has real‑world and practical application, you will be the strategic leader for scientific and technical innovation for significant parts of the Environment Agency.
You will work closely with colleagues across the EA and across government and be responsible for the EA’s relationship with Defra’s Innovation Team. In collaboration with innovation colleagues in Floods and Coastal Management, you will also help to lead the EA’s relationship with external partners such as Innovate UK and the Catapult Network – leveraging opportunities to pilot, co‑develop and ultimately implement innovations to support EA activities. Your role will be external facing, representing the EA and CSG with funding bodies, private sector organisations and across government.
Responsibilities
Lead the Monitoring, Insights and Innovation Team. Modernise the way the Environment Agency gains insights about the environment. Work with technical and project teams across the country.
Qualifications
Experience and skills:
* Extensive experience of identifying innovative technical solutions and landing them at pace in complex, large organisational structures.
* Firm understanding of innovation, the development and implementation of a pipeline, strategic partnerships and their application in the public sector.
* Experience and skill in environmental sciences and collection of environmental data so that you can interpret highly technical problem statements and talk with credibility to audiences who may initially be sceptical.
* Ability to be an engaging and compelling communicator who is able to work with, and establish trusted relationships with, a wide range of stakeholders, organisations and professions.
* Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work.
* Ability to lead others, utilise programme and project management skills, to tap into governance routes in order to make organisations faster, better and more efficient.
Commitments and Work Environment
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel; some travel and overnights may be required. The role is national with flexible/hybrid working arrangements.
EEO Statement
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.
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