Overview
Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? The Environment Agency is the organisation for you. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence our approach to risk management and lead the implementation of our Risk Management Framework to strengthen our risk culture across the organisation.
You will work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, providing expert advice and enabling teams to identify, assess, and manage risks with confidence and consistency. Your leadership will help ensure our decisions are informed, our operations resilient, and our people empowered. There are opportunities to build networks with other Government Departments.
Responsibilities
* Champion and maintain our Risk Management Framework, ensuring it aligns with HM Treasury’s Orange Book and meets organisational needs.
* Lead the rollout of consistent risk management processes across the organisation.
* Deliver an annual programme of activities to embed good risk practices and foster a proactive risk culture.
* Provide senior leaders with clear, insightful reporting to support strategic decision-making.
* Build trusted relationships across teams, offering expert advice and constructive challenge.
* Collaborate with other functions (e.g. health & safety, programme management) to integrate risk management into everything we do.
* Coach and support team members, helping them grow and deliver with confidence.
Responding to incidents is a central part of this role. You may be asked to have an incident role and be available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training will be provided.
Team
Our Risk and Assurance Team sits in Strategy, Transformation and Assurance. We set the standards, shape the processes, and provide tools that help teams make confident, informed decisions. We offer expert advice, engaging training, and practical resources to support colleagues at every level to manage risk consistently, effectively, and empowering.
This is a technical leadership role and there may be an opportunity for line management in the future.
Experience / Skills Required
* An experienced technical leader with extensive understanding of risk management gained in a similar role.
* Comprehensive understanding of the Orange Book and risk management principles including risk governance and assurance.
* Proven track record of implementing and embedding risk management initiatives through collaborative working and delivering through others across multiple teams.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience in providing expert risk advice and engaging with senior leaders on risk management matters.
* Ability to build strong, trusted relationships across all levels while challenging firmly and constructively.
* Experience of working in a complex and fast-paced environment, adapting quickly to changing circumstances and managing competing priorities.
* Ideally, a risk management qualification or relevant professional membership (e.g. IRMCert).
* Understanding of other risk-based functions such as project/programme management and health & safety.
Contact and Additional information
There is one permanent role available. This is a hybrid role; the successful candidate can be based at any Environment Agency office. Some travel will be required to attend national meetings, with some overnight stays. Flexible working patterns, including job share, are welcome. For questions relating to these roles, contact Claire Sunshine (Claire.sunshine@environment-agency.gov.uk).
This vacancy closes on 7 November 2025. Interviews are expected to be held w/c 1 December using MS Teams. A call for interested applicants will be held on 23 October at 10:00 to provide more details – please contact riskandassurancepa@environment-agency.gov.uk for call details.
If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Compliance and Diversity
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share, and to help applicants indicate preferred working arrangements on their application. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment and guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; if applicable, please consult your HR team regarding continuous service status and redundancy considerations. We are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls and a Crown Commercial Service supplier path is available for eligible candidates.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, but all examples and statements must be truthful and taken from your own experience. Plagiarism or AI-generated content presented as your own may lead to withdrawal of the application.
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