Overview

Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Advisor - Natural Flood Management - 32108

We’re on an ambitious journey to embed nature-based solutions at the heart of flood resilience. As outlined in our FCERM Strategy and Roadmap, Natural Flood Management (NFM) plays a vital role in reducing flood risk while delivering wider benefits for nature, communities, and society.

This permanent role offers an exciting opportunity to help deliver and upscale NFM across England. You’ll support our £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support. You’ll also help mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio. In addition, you’ll coordinate the NFM Community of Practice and respond to stakeholder enquiries. We’re looking for someone who can confidently lead specific workstreams - such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management - with initiative and independence. The role involves hybrid working, with some travel and overnight stays. 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 workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.

The team: You’ll join a small, inclusive Natural Flood Management Team within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of our national Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate. We’re a collaborative and passionate team, driving forward NFM. The department works closely with Defra and other partners to shape the future of flood resilience, set strategic direction, and drive innovation. It’s a dynamic space, and we welcome flexible working for all roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead specific workstreams such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management, with initiative and independence.
• Support the £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support.
• Coordinate the NFM Community of Practice and respond to stakeholder enquiries.
• Upscale and mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio.
• Work in a hybrid model with some travel and occasional overnight stays.
• Respond to incidents as part of the incident role, with potential additional payment and access to training and workplace adjustments.

Experience/Skills Required

• Proactive individual with a strong track record of delivering results; comfortable managing a varied workload, coordinating across teams, and progressing work independently.
• A relevant qualification or experience in FCRM or a related discipline is essential.
• Experience in natural flood management – commissioning, funding, delivery, and identifying opportunities and barriers to upscaling.
• Project and grant management experience.
• EA processes and governance (e.g., Scheme of Delegation and assurance).
• Building and sustaining stakeholder relationships, including supporting a wide range of delivery bodies.
• Strong, clear, effective communication.
• Digital and data skills, including coding, Power BI, Power Automate, and effective use of tracking and filing systems.
• Experience using GIS tools and carrying out spatial data analysis.

We’re committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds.

Contact and additional information

If you’ve got questions about the role, contact Eleanor Heron (eleanor.heron@environment-agency.gov.uk) or Jon Hollis (jon.hollis@environment-agency.gov.uk). Interviews will take place virtually week commencing 3rd November.

The Environment Agency is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share; please include 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.

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. If plagiarism is detected, applications may be withdrawn.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is sponsored by Defra.