Overview

Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Advisor - Natural Flood Management (NFM) is a permanent role focused on delivering nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk and deliver wider benefits for nature, communities, and society. The role supports the £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support, and helps mainstream innovative approaches into the wider FCERM investment portfolio. The role involves coordinating the NFM Community of Practice and responding to stakeholder enquiries, with the ability to lead specific workstreams such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management. The role involves hybrid working with some travel and overnight stays. Responding to incidents is a central part of the work, with an incident role that may attract additional payment and full training and workplace adjustments to support incident duties.

The team operates within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of the national Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate. It is a small, inclusive team that collaborates with Defra and other partners to shape the future of flood resilience. The department supports flexible working for all roles.

Responsibilities

• Support the NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support.
• Help mainstream innovative NFM approaches 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.
• Travel as required for hybrid working, including overnight stays.
• Respond to incidents as part of the incident role, receive full training, and access workplace adjustments as needed.
• Collaborate with a small, inclusive team and work with Defra and other partners to shape future flood resilience.

Experience / Qualifications

• Proactive individual with a strong track record of delivering results and managing a varied workload.
• Relevant qualification or experience in FCRM or a related discipline is essential.
• Experience in natural flood management areas such as commissioning, funding, delivery, and identifying opportunities and barriers to upscaling is desirable.
• Experience in project and grant management.
• Knowledge of EA processes and governance (e.g., Scheme of Delegation and assurance).
• Experience building and sustaining stakeholder relationships across delivery bodies.
• Clear, effective communication; strong digital and data skills, including coding, Power BI, Power Automate, and use of tracking and filing systems.
• Proficiency with GIS tools and spatial data analysis.

Additional information

• We are committed to building an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve and welcome candidates from all backgrounds.
• We welcome flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share; please indicate preferred working arrangements in your application.
• Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability meeting the minimum criteria for the post.
• The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by Defra; we use Central Government frameworks for external recruitment and may guide suppliers through Crown Commercial Service channels where relevant.
• Artificial intelligence: examples must be truthful and drawn from your own experience; plagiarism may lead to withdrawal of applications. Our guidance aligns with Civil Service guidance on AI use.

Contacts

If you have questions about the role, please contact Eleanor Heron (eleanor.heron@environment-agency.gov.uk) or Jon Hollis (jon.hollis@environment-agency.gov.uk). Interviews will be conducted virtually in the week commencing 3 November.

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance and Sales