Technical Officer - Thames Navigations - 32426

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Title

Technical Officer – Thames Navigations – 32426

City/Town

Reading, Shepperton, Wallingford

Region

South East

Vacancies

Salary Minimum

£34,320

Position Type

Permanent

Job ID

32426

Closing date

05 Jan 2026

Published date

27 Nov 2025

Grade

Staff Grade 4

Role type

Operational Delivery

Security check

Basic Check

Attachments

Apply here

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to improve our regulation of recreational activities on the River Thames. The team provides a front facing service to customers, regulates river levels through weir operation and carries out enforcement of boat registration. We are in a period of change to make our operations financially sustainable through regulation, efficiency, opportunity, and better ways of delivering work. This role plays a key part in that, ensuring we are an effective regulator and maximising our income so we can re-invest back into our waterways. The ideal person will be a strong communicator and an understanding of how to approach regulation within a diverse community to ensure effective results. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies and are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve.

Key responsibilities:

• Management of Health, Safety and Wellbeing for you and your team
• Targeted, routine boat patrolling
• Managing enforcement casework with associated targets and deadlines
• Providing well researched correspondence based on sound technical knowledge, experience and legal advice.
• Advising on regulatory issues and consultations
• Working with customer representatives and professional partners
• Managing change and imbedding effective ways of working
• Participating in an incident role

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. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.

The Team:

The Environment Agency has a responsibility to manage some of the busiest recreational waterways in the country. Our River Thames operations include 45 lock and weir complexes. Your team will consist of a total of 12 staff - Team Leader, Lock and Weir Keepers and Technical staff.

Experience/Skills Required:

You will need to demonstrate:

• An effective approach to regulation
• Good time management - working to delivery timelines and reporting on results
• Good written report skills
• Following legal process
• High levels of communication skills (face to face and written correspondence)
• Working with Policy and legislation

Contact and Additional Information:

You will be required work at various locations. The job requires regular front line presence, outdoors in all weather. Please state your base location preference and be mindful of realistic regular travel to these locations from where you live. Out of hours work is occasionally required to manage incidents. As the work takes beside the river or out on boats, you should be a confident swimmer. Full Training will be given to achieve the mandatory requirements of the post alongside ongoing development.

Allowances include:

Incident payments (when on standby)
Outer London weighting (location dependant)

For further details, please contact: [email protected]

Important note - Please provide examples thoroughly. A panel will use only these in a ‘blind’ process to determine who is put forward for interview.

Competence 1:

Achieves Results

Competence 1 Description:

Please give us an example of your approach to maximising work output. How did you set goals, ensure quality and measure outcomes?

Competence 2:

Health Safety & Wellbeing

Competence 2 Description:

Please give us an example of how your own behaviour reduced risks to the health, safety or wellbeing of yourself and others.

Competence 3:

Communicates Effectively

Competence 3 Description:

Please give us an example of communicating with someone to ensure a clear understanding in challenging circumstances. Please outline your approach considering, the impact, anticipating reaction and methods you used.

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

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, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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