Water Company Liaison Officer - 34699

We promote a positive, inclusive, supportive culture where everyone feels valued, using evidence, expertise, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation and secure resources.

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.

Knowledge and practical experience of water company regulation and/or planning is desirable

You’ll have a range of development opportunities while in the role and appropriate training will be provided .

Job Description

We are the Environment Agency. Working with Government, councils, businesses, and communities, we create a better place for people and wildlife. You’ll sit at the heart of our work to transform our planning and regulation of the water industry to improve water company performance.

The Environment Agency’s Water Company Accounts Teams work with water companies and internal local operations and national policy teams, to regulate and report on water company performance. Our teams hold the comprehensive overview of their environmental performance across all activities and strategic plans to influence improvements and future investment at a senior level. We influence water company business planning through Ofwat’s price review process and specific plans such as water resources management plans, drainage and wastewater management plans and pollution incident reduction plans. This is an opportunity to join the North East Account Management Team.

In this role you’ll be responsible for:

Working with and bringing together operational colleagues as part of a virtual team to influence and improve water company performance and investment Developing water company specific action plans Tracking water company delivery, such as Water Industry National Environment Programme Reporting water company performance and supporting senior engagement through timely and informative briefings Working closely with colleagues across the business to support policy development and environmental objectives

We promote a positive, inclusive, supportive culture where everyone feels valued, using evidence, expertise, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation and secure resources.

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 North East team is one of five water company facing teams who work with colleagues involved in water planning and performance across the business. These teams are part of Operations Catchment Service, a national-once department which uses evidence, expertise, collaboration and innovation to drive performance and influence future investment. We’re a friendly, dispersed team, based across NE England. We use a mix of regular face to face meetings and smart tools to stay connected.

Experience/skills Required

You will need to be highly organised with knowledge of environmental planning and regulation.

You must be an effective communicator building strong working relationships with colleagues, customers and stakeholders.

Through experience to date you should be able to demonstrate the following:

A self-starter, motivated to achieve outcomes with an appetite to work collaboratively across teams Strong written and spoken communication skills Ability to build, develop and sustain new and existing relationships, maintaining effective communication with the team and customers. Ability to influence across a range of internal and external stakeholders and partners Highly organised and able to manage competing activities Ability to manage and present data and information effectively Knowledge of the environmental pressures impacting on the water environment

Knowledge and practical experience of water company regulation and/or planning is desirable

You’ll have a range of development opportunities while in the role and appropriate training will be provided.

Contact and additional information

We are committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We offer an extensive range of employee benefits and the opportunity to progress your career with us via professional training routes such as apprenticeships and degree programmes.

We welcome flexible working. You will need to be comfortable working virtually via MS teams with a mix of home and office working. Some travel and overnight stays will be required, including face to face meetings with water companies at regular liaison meetings.

For questions relating to this role, please contact Fiona Morris, fiona.morris@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competence 1

Influences and Persuades Others

Description

Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Give an example of when you have successfully persuaded a key stakeholder to follow your advice or company guidance on a project or piece of work when it was not their preferred approach.

Competence 2

Communicates Effectively

Description

Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: Whilst working with an external partner or customer, please describe how you have tailored your communication style to meet the requirements of a specific individual or situation.

Competence 3

Achieves Results

Description

Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Question: Please provide an example of where you have overcome significant barriers to deliver a result on time and to quality.

Competence 4

Manages the Business

Description

Description: Working with water companies and driving improvements in performance

Question: Describe your experience and skills related to the regulatory and planning framework for the water industry. Explain what you believe your key skills and strengths are for this role

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.