Overview

Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Advisor - Natural Flood Management (NFM) - 32108. This permanent role supports the £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support. It aims to embed nature-based solutions at the heart of flood resilience and mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio.

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 pay and full training and workplace adjustments provided to support incident duties.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate specific workstreams within NFM, such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management, with initiative and independence.
• Support the delivery and upscaling of Natural Flood Management across England.
• Track projects and manage grant processes; provide secretariat support for the NFM Programme.
• Coordinate the NFM Community of Practice and respond to stakeholder enquiries.
• Work with delivery bodies and stakeholders to build and sustain relationships.
• Contribute to the wider FCERM portfolio by mainstreaming innovative NFM approaches.

Qualifications and experience

• 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.
• Experience in project and grant management.
• Knowledge of EA processes and governance (e.g., Scheme of Delegation and assurance).
• Strong stakeholder relationship skills across a range of delivery bodies.
• Clear, effective communication; strong digital and data skills, including coding, Power BI, Power Automate, and use of tracking and filing systems.
• Experience using GIS tools and carrying out spatial data analysis.

Other information

You will be part of a small, inclusive Natural Flood Management Team within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of the national Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate. Flexible working is supported. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra.

Disclaimer The Environment Agency notes that AI tools can assist applications but all content must be truthful and from the applicant’s own experience. If you are applying from Civil Service, note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant on appointment.

Contact

For questions about the role, contact Eleanor Heron (eleanor.heron@environment-agency.gov.uk) or Jon Hollis (jon.hollis@environment-agency.gov.uk). Interviews are planned virtually in the week commencing 3 November.