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

Overview

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 is a small, inclusive Natural Flood Management Team within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of the 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. Flexible working is welcomed for all roles.

Responsibilities

• Support the £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support.
• Help mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio.
• Coordinate the NFM Community of Practice and respond to stakeholder enquiries.
• Lead specific workstreams such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management with initiative and independence.
• Operate in a hybrid working model with some travel and overnight stays.
• Respond to incidents as part of business continuity; be available to respond to incidents and receive full training and workplace adjustments to support the incident role.

Experience and skills

We’re seeking a proactive individual with a strong track record of delivering results. You’ll be confident managing a varied workload, coordinating across teams, and progressing work independently. A relevant qualification or experience in FCRM or a related discipline is essential. We welcome candidates with experience in:

• Natural Flood Management – commissioning, funding, delivery, and identifying opportunities and barriers to upscaling
• Project and grant management
• EA processes and governance (e.g. Scheme of Delegation and assurance)
• Building and sustaining stakeholder relationships, including supporting a wide range of delivery bodies
• Clear, effective communication
• Strong digital and data skills, including coding, Power BI, Power Automate and effective use of tracking and filing systems
• Using GIS tools and carrying out spatial data analysis

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 the week commencing 3 November.

Equal opportunity and flexible working

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and offer flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment, 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 uses Central Government frameworks and contracts for external recruitment. For information on becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, please visit the official government page.