Environment Agency
Groundwater and Hydrology Team Leader - 34483
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Essential skills:
- Visible leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
- Holding equality, diversity, and inclusivity at the core of everything you do
- Taking responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and your team
- Translating organisational outcomes into plans and programmes for frontline delivery
- Able to take initiative, solve problems and make decisions
- Experience managing budgets, projects and contracts
- Experience working with policy and legislation
- Communicating technical information provided by your team to senior leaders
Desirable skills:
- Technical understanding of water resource management and regulation
- Able to create an environment that encourages creativity, innovation and improving efficiency
Job Description
We are looking for a highly motivated, driven and innovative team leader to lead and inspire the Groundwater and Hydrology team in our Herts and North London Area. The team is comprised of 9 highly qualified and experienced hydrologists and hydrogeologists who provide technical expertise on water resources planning and regulation across Hertfordshire and North London.
In this role, you will have responsibility for a variety of work strands that support our water resources management and regulation. Building and maintaining productive relationships with internal customers will be at the heart of your role. You will oversee budgets, work planning, and recruitment whilst needing to be flexible and adaptable to changing work priorities.
You'll ensure the team has the support and resources needed to provide high-quality technical input. This means overseeing performance, managing priorities, securing additional resource where required and fostering an environment where technical excellence can thrive.
You will be responsible for the health, safety & wellbeing of your team by actively promoting awareness and ensuring the provision of safe working practices in line with Environment Agency policy. You will be a role model and promote inclusion by respecting differences in our workforce and build a supportive and engaging workplace.
You will also take an active role in the area for the Environment Agency’s Incident response. Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
The Team provides technical expertise and advice on water resource management and regulation. Our area hydrologists and hydrogeologists monitor, analyse, assess, forecast and report on the water environment covering a diverse range of Chalk and urban rivers, canals and wetlands. We work on today’s hydrological and groundwater challenges, whilst making sure we are preparing and adapting to the future challenges of Climate Change.
Experience/skills Required
To deliver this role successfully, you’ll be:
- Passionate about getting the best out of people, budgets and resources
- Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and self-motivated
- Confident in setting direction and providing feedback
- A champion for the hydrology and hydrogeology service in the area
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Essential skills:
- Visible leadership, interpersonal and communication skills
- Holding equality, diversity, and inclusivity at the core of everything you do
- Taking responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and your team
- Translating organisational outcomes into plans and programmes for frontline delivery
- Able to take initiative, solve problems and make decisions
- Experience managing budgets, projects and contracts
- Experience working with policy and legislation
- Communicating technical information provided by your team to senior leaders
Desirable skills:
- Technical understanding of water resource management and regulation
- Able to create an environment that encourages creativity, innovation and improving efficiency
Contact and additional information
You’ll have an EA Office base location in Alchemy, Welwyn Garden City. Whilst flexible working is supported, you will regularly need to be present within the area to bring the team together and ensure you are visible.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel; some travel and overnights may be required.
Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for specific details and requirements of the role. Any queries, contact nikita.gretsi@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held in person during the week commencing 19th October 2026.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Competence 1
Leads People
Description
Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency
Question
As the new Groundwater and Hydrology Team Leader, you will be responsible for leading a team that will require great leadership to develop staff, prioritise work and set direction.
Please describe, using an example, your approach to leading and motivating people?
Competence 2
Delivers Results Through Others
Description
Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.
Question
In this role, you will be the bridge between technical experts and senior management decision makers.
Please give an example of when you’ve led a team to deliver business outcomes and the approach you took to ensure key outcomes were met.
Competence 3
Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality
Description
Identifies and seizes the opportunity to create, introduce and implement new or improved methods, processes and without, compromising quality or accuracy.
Question
The team works in a challenging and rapidly developing environment, with climate change and technological advances driving the need for change. You will need to ensure the team will adapt and evolve to be prepared for this.
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Please give an example of where you’ve delivered a solution that improved efficiency and quality or drove innovation.
Competence 4
Diversity
Description
Works successfully, with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and ensuring that work is managed so that everyone is able to deliver their best. Actively encourages others to consider diversity issues in their work.
Question
Tell us what you have done personally to create an inclusive team culture and how you have promoted and embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusion culture.
Role specific license requirements
Full UK Driving Licence
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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