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 compliance 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 an efficiently prioritised and delivered manner. We’re seeking an inclusive, collaborative, and driven leader who can lead teams through change while enabling a diverse workforce to thrive and deliver to the highest standards. You will have experience in project delivery in conformance with environmental legislation, policies and strategies, and a proven track record of working closely with senior leaders, industry experts, delivery partners and external stakeholders to achieve mutually beneficial strategic outcomes.
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 that builds trust, fosters strong relationships and creates opportunities for collaboration.
* Set strategic priorities aligned to the broader EA strategy and motivate the team to deliver efficiently.
* Develop and embed a culture of continuous improvement to optimise changing needs of the business, environment and stakeholders.
* Foster a culture of psychological safety that empowers confident decision making and enables innovation.
* Plan and deliver change within the team and across relevant business relationships amid ongoing 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, ensuring 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
To excel in this role, the following experience and capabilities are expected:
* Significant experience in Project Delivery, Environmental Legislation, Environmental Policy or similar areas relevant to Environmental Assessment.
* Significant experience leading technical teams, translating strategy into operational delivery.
* Experience driving a high-performance team culture with personal accountability, facilitating psychological safety and prioritising people over process.
* Innovative thinking with opportunities for new collaborations and better use of data.
* Confidence in taking risk-based, proportionate decisions at pace and removing barriers to delivery.
* Ability to operate in uncertainty and communicate complex issues clearly to senior internal and external colleagues.
* Ability to build consensus and influence internal and external senior stakeholders to make the best choices for the environment and the business.
Contact and Additional Information
We are committed to an inclusive workforce and flexible working patterns, including job sharing. Some travel and occasional overnight stays may be required. The role can be fulfilled via hybrid working. Training and participation in incident response duties may be required. 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
Assessments will take place on Microsoft Teams in the week commencing 29 September and will include a panel interview and a staff engagement exercise.
Competencies
* Leads People
* Develops People
* Manages Change
* Manages Self
Notes
The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; please review status if you have civil service eligibility questions. We welcome flexible working patterns and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with disabilities. If you are applying from local government or other listed bodies, you may be eligible for continuous service for redundancy calculations. This posting may include additional guidance; please refer to the candidate pack for full details.
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