Contract Officer – Fleet Services

Environment Agency – Defra Group Fleet Services (DGFS) – full time, flexible working patterns and job share available.

We’re fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone.

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 have committed to being a net zero organisation and 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.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. Please see the candidate pack for more on how you will support with this.

Responsibilities

• Identify business needs and develop contract strategy.
• Lead tender processes and award contracts.
• Oversee contract lifecycle, ensuring performance and environmental compliance.
• Maintain cost‑effective fleet operations and deliver legal and health & safety responsibilities.
• Influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide incident response support and training participation.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues across the organisation and suppliers.
• Strong influencing and persuasion skills.
• Forward thinker, able to identify opportunities and risks.
• Experience of the procurement processes within Defra desirable.

Location and Working Patterns

Location is flexible but may require work in EA offices and attendance at national meetings. Remote working and overnight stays may be required.

Full time, but requests for other work patterns will be considered.

Contact

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.

Legal and EEO Statements

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.

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.

Notes

Interviews are expected to take place via MS Teams week during mid to late November 2025. Competence questions and licence requirements are part of the selection process as described in the original posting.