Overview

Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Advisor - Natural Flood Management. This permanent role offers an exciting opportunity to help deliver and upscale Natural Flood Management (NFM) across England. You’ll support the £25 million NFM Programme through project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support, and help mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio.

You’ll coordinate the NFM Community of Practice and respond to stakeholder enquiries. The role may involve leading specific workstreams such as environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, or asset management, with initiative and independence. The role is hybrid with some travel and overnight stays. Responding to incidents is a central part of the work, and you will be required to have an incident role with availability for incident response or business continuity support, which may attract additional payment. Full training and workplace adjustments will be provided for the incident role.

You’ll join a small, inclusive Natural Flood Management Team within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of the national Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate. The department works closely with Defra and partners to shape the future of flood resilience, set strategic direction, and drive innovation. Flexible working is welcome for all roles.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery and upscaling of Natural Flood Management (NFM) across England as part of the £25 million NFM Programme.
• Carry out project tracking, grant management, and provide secretariat support.
• 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 or contribute to specific workstreams (e.g., environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, asset management) with initiative and independence.
• Work in a hybrid environment with some travel and overnight stays and participate in incident response when required.

Qualifications and Experience

• A relevant qualification or experience in FCRM or a related discipline is essential.
• Experience in Natural Flood Management – commissioning, funding, delivery, and identifying opportunities/barriers to upscaling.
• Project and grant management experience.
• Knowledge of EA processes and governance (e.g., Scheme of Delegation and assurance).
• Ability to build and sustain stakeholder relationships across diverse delivery bodies.
• Clear, effective communication skills.
• Strong digital and data skills, including coding, Power BI, Power Automate, and effective use of tracking and filing systems.
• Proficiency with GIS tools and carrying out 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, including job share; please indicate preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. If applying from Civil Service, note that Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and would not be Crown Servant; continuous service implications may vary for local government employees. For any questions about status, contact your HR team. Interviews will be held virtually during the week commencing 3 November.

The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment. For supplier opportunities, visit the Crown Commercial Service reference guidance.