Environment Agency
Senior Advisor - Sewerage Modelling Audit Lead - 36217
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Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Senior Sewerage Modeller to join our Water Quality Regulatory Development Team within the nationwide Environment & Business (E&B) department.
This role is an exciting opportunity to be at the centre of the Environment Agency to improve England’s water quality by providing audit of Water Industry storm overflow investment decisions. You will join a water quality focused regulatory team of specialists enabling strategic change within the water sector.
Working proactively with Environment Agency national and local teams and external organisations, the role will lead the development and management of audit processes for water quality investigations and modelling carried out under the Storm Overflows Assessment Framework and Environment Act. You will also be responsible for developing training courses on Urban Pollution Management (UPM), responding to technical queries, supporting enforcement activity, and coaching staff on sewerage and water quality investigations.
The role will engage with national stakeholders, including water Industry, Defra and Ofwat. It provides the opportunity for the successful candidate to step up from a delivery focused role to one of shaping future national approaches whilst developing a national impact and profile for yourself.
We’re a dispersed team and work with a wide range of teams across the country involved in water industry regulation and water quality planning.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You’ll have the option 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 will be available to support you with your incident role should you choose to have one.
The Team
This post is part of the Water Quality Regulatory Development team in Water Industry Regulation.
The team is dispersed throughout the country. The successful candidate must be able to work on their own initiative while maintaining effective communication with internal and external customers.
In E&B we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued. We use evidence, expertise, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation and secure resources.
Experience/Skills Required
A relevant degree such as civil engineering, geography or environmental science is expected as is demonstration of continued professional development. For example through professional membership progression.
You will have significant experience of managing and implementing sewer modelling and/or river quality impact modelling carried out for Urban Pollution Management (UPM) studies, including model audits. You will also have knowledge of environmental planning and the regulation of Water and Sewerage Companies as well as CIWEM codes/guidance
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As well as technical knowledge, you will need to have excellent organisational skills and be effective at coaching others. Experience of embedding new approaches into our/your business will help, as the role will involve developing new processes through collaborative relationships across dispersed teams.
Contact and Additional Information
Office base location is flexible, and you should be prepared to occasionally travel or stay overnight to attend meetings.
We promote an inclusive culture, welcoming all applicants, including disabled, neurodiverse, LGBT+ or Black Asian and Minority Ethnic colleagues. Job share applications also encouraged.
For further information on this role please contact: phil.hulme@environment-agency.gov.uk
For more information about working for us and how to apply please read the Candidate Pack and Additional information document
Applications will be “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held using MS Teams during week commencing November 2026.
If you consent to be recruited onto a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and we may offer you an alternative post.
Competencies
Competence 1: Numerical Modelling and Forecasting
Description
Numerical modelling and forecasting – interprets data and information to forecast the state of the environment, including large-scale trends such as climate change, and more localised forecasting such as pollution, flooding and water availability.
Describe sewer and/or river quality impact models you have developed, their purpose, your role with stakeholders, the audit or quality assurance processes followed, problems encountered, and how these were resolved.
Competence 2: Strategic Environment Planning
Description
Develops, delivers and implements strategic plans for the sustainable use, protection and improvement of our environment.
Please provide a summary of your technical knowledge and experience from the wastewater sector. Describe how you have applied environmental planning, along with your technical and professional skills, to have a significant positive impact on water quality in the wastewater sector/environment.
Competence 3: Coaches Others
Description
Uses variety of methods, including direct instruction, coaching and feedback skills to help others to develop.
Provide an example of where you successfully enhanced the capability of a group of people within your organisation or an external organisation. How did you go about this and how did you know whether you were successful?
Competence 4: Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery
Description
Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment
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Describe an innovative process within the wastewater/environmental sector that you have developed and embedded at an organisational or national level.
Additional Information
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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