Contract Officer – Environment Agency

We’re fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

The Environment Agency strategy is to protect and enhance nature and leave the nation’s natural environment in a better state than we inherited it. We are committed to being a net zero organisation and Defra Group Fleet Services (DGFS) is responsible for leading the fleet transition to achieving this.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a team of fleet specialists to support delivery of these ambitious fleet targets and drive tangible change. You will work within a team of contract professionals, delivering a varied work programme of purchase and service contracts on behalf of the Environment Agency and our Defra Partners. You will work with colleagues across the organisation identifying business needs, setting contract strategy, and leading tender processes including award of contracts. As a member of the Contracts, Performance & Risk Team, you will work with contract managers overseeing the contracts through the whole lifecycle, working with suppliers to reduce their environmental footprint, maintain a cost‑effective fleet, and deliver our legal and health & safety responsibilities. Excellent relationship management and influencing skills are critical to the role.

Responsibilities

• Develop and award purchase and service contracts to deliver fleet targets.
• Manage the full lifecycle of contracts, ensuring compliance with legal and health & safety responsibilities.
• Influence and persuade stakeholders internally and externally to achieve contract outcomes.
• Collaborate with suppliers to reduce environmental footprint and maintain a cost‑effective fleet.
• Respond to incidents and undertake mandatory training to support incidents management.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues across the organisation and with suppliers.
• Strong influencing and persuasive skills for engaging stakeholders.
• Forward thinker with the ability to identify opportunities and risks.
• Experience of procurement processes within Defra would be desirable.
• Full UK driving licence.

Contact

Location: Flexible – may work in EA offices and attend national meetings, possibly with overnight stays. The post is Full Time but requests for other work patterns will be considered.

Interviews are expected to take place via MS Teams week during mid to late November 2025.

Please contact Jacqui Date (Fleet Manager) via email on Jacqui.date@environment-agency.gov.uk (Monday to Thursday) for more information or to arrange an informal discussion.