ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING-WATER QUALITY AND WATER RESOURCES
Water Quality and Resource Planners identify solutions to meet statutory water quality/resource objectives and secure key environmental outcomes, working with stakeholders to influence significant investment in the water environment.
You will use your technical expertise to help protect and improve marine and freshwater water quality from pressures such as growth, development and climate change.
You will join a community of environmental planners working on a range of technical areas, including water company Price Review. You will liaise with water companies to develop our evidence base and justify future action to improve water quality including complex environmental permitting. Contributing to creating a cleaner, safer and healthier environment.
Our approach is evidence led, and includes influencing monitoring strategies, implementing policy, data and information analysis including modelling, and communicating technical issues to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders particularly water companies.
Why the Environment Agency
By joining the Environment Agency (EA), you become part of a collective effort to protect and improve the environment in England. Our work addresses national-level issues, ranging from industry regulation to flood defences, land contamination, water quality, fisheries, and conservation. Your work directly contributes to creating a more sustainable and safer environment for all.
The EA’s diverse scope of work necessitates a multi-skilled workforce. Working with us means being part of a team that promotes sustainable growth, tackles climate change, and secures a better future for everyone. Collaboration and interaction allow for a rich and diverse working environment, fostering personal and professional growth.
Available roles
Water Quality Officer
Water Quality Planning Officers in our Area Integrated Environment Planning Teams drive improvements in local rivers, lakes and coastal waters. You will provide technical support on a range of water quality workstreams and support the team in planning projects to improve water quality. These workstreams may include:
- Delivery of the Water Industry National Environment Programme on the Price Review process with water companies.
- Environment Agency activities, such as permitting of discharges and planning applications.
- Responding to requests for information from the public, MPs and others.
- Planning of Protected Areas improvements, including bathing waters, shellfish waters and drinking waters.
Within the Environment Agency, you will work with National colleagues, who provide guidance and technical support. You will also work with other local Area Teams with specialist knowledge in different aspects of the local environment, and environmental regulations.
Your support will be key to delivering a wealth of positive environmental outcomes across each area. These are area-based roles in our Ipswich/Brampton and Bridgwater/Blandford Forum areas.
Water Quality/Resources Officer
Water Quality/Resources Planning Officers in our Integrated Environment Planning Teams drive improvements across the water sector from bathing waters to drought. You will provide support on a range of water quality/resources workstreams and support the team in its planning of projects to improve water quality and resources.
The workstreams may include:
- Delivery of the Water Industry National Environment Programme on the Price Review process with the water company.
- Environment Agency activities, such as permitting of discharges and planning applications.
- Responding to requests for information from the public, MPs and others.
- Planning of Protected Areas improvements, including bathing waters, shellfish waters and drinking waters.
- Supporting other teams and team members on Water Resources issues;
- Working with water companies, consultants and abstractor sector;
- Supporting on water resources tasks including permitting, dry weather incident management and strategic planning activities;
Within the Environment Agency, you will work with Area & National colleagues, who provide guidance, and technical support. You will also work with other local Area Teams with specialist knowledge in different aspects of the local environment, and environmental regulations. These are area-based roles in our Lincoln/Peterborough/Kettering area.
Water Quality Specialist
We are looking for Water Quality Specialists in our Area Integrated Environment Planning Teams in a variety of roles. These water planning teams drive improvements in local rivers, lakes and coastal waters. You will work on a variety of aspects of water quality planning to understand the pressures, find solutions, and work with those who can deliver change.
You will need to be skilled at reviewing data and information and communicating requirements clearly to ensure proposals meet the latest environmental standards and provide the maximum environmental benefit. Given the scale of future investment by water companies in England, and the record number of improvements required by the Environment Act, many of these roles will be dedicated to reviewing and shaping water company proposals. For this, you will work closely with the local Water Company, reviewing the data and information they provide. You will need to communicate with them and be able to influence them to go further against competing priorities. Within the Environment Agency, you will work with National colleagues, who provide guidance, and technical support. You will also work with other local Area Teams with specialist knowledge in different aspects of the local environment, and environmental regulations. These are area-based roles, based in our Newcastle/Darlington and Exeter/Bodmin areas.
