Overview

Flood and Coastal Risk Management - Advisor - Natural Flood Management (NFM)

We’re on an ambitious journey to embed nature-based solutions at the heart of flood resilience. 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, and help mainstream innovative approaches trialled through the programme into the wider FCERM investment portfolio. You’ll also 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, and you will be required to have an incident role and to make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment with full training and workplace adjustments available to support you with your incident role.

The team sits within the Strategy and Adaptation Department of the national Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate. We work closely with Defra and other partners to shape the future of flood resilience, set strategic direction, and drive innovation. We welcome flexible working for all roles.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery and upscaling of Natural Flood Management (NFM) across England
• Provide project tracking, grant management, and secretariat support for the £25 million NFM Programme
• Mainstream innovative NFM 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 (e.g., environmental and hydrological monitoring, permitting, asset management) with initiative and independence
• Travel as required and participate in hybrid working arrangements
• Respond to incidents as part of business continuity and incident response planning

Experience and qualifications

• A relevant qualification or experience in FCERM or a related discipline is essential
• Strong track record of delivering results and coordinating across teams
• 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 with a 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
• GIS skills and spatial data analysis

Additional information

• Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce; flexible working patterns, including job share, are welcomed
• Guaranteed Interview Policy for applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria
• For Civil Service status: Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; contact your HR team if unsure of your status
• For continuous service considerations in local government or related bodies, refer to the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999
• We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and working arrangements

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 will be held virtually during the week commencing 3 November.

Location: Bridgwater, England, United Kingdom

Seniority level: Associate | Employment type: Full-time | Job function: Finance and Sales