G5 Communications and Engagement Business Partner - 31973

This is an opportunity to help tell the story of the Environment Agency. The Internal Communications and Engagement (ICE) team supports the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance (STA) Directorate across high-profile areas as the organisation evolves to respond to environmental challenges, as outlined in EA2030. This role focuses on building cohesion across directorates and coordinating activity to ensure our people receive the right information, in the right format, at the right time.

Responsibilities

• Work across a portfolio of themes, acting as a vital link between the directorate and the wider ICE team.
• Develop effective relationships with stakeholders and customers across the organisation.
• Plan strategy, share and drive best practice, set editorial standards, ensure executional consistency, and align with organisational priorities and brand.
• Align communications and engagement with the central narrative and ensure corporate discipline to improve message consistency.
• Champion high standards and help people engage with what matters.
• Influence teams and departments to maximise the effectiveness of work.

The Team

The business partner team is a small cross-functional group of communication and engagement experts within the ICE team, part of the STA Directorate. We collaborate with Defra Group Communications and other colleagues to:

• Enable effective communications and engagement by ensuring the right tools, skills, and ways of working.
• Plan and deliver integrated activities, continually improving engagement with our people.

Experience/Skills Required

• Ability to persuade, influence, and reason with others will be vital.
• Experience and understanding of planning and delivering excellent communications and engagement activities that drive operational improvements.
• Ability to balance a broad understanding of EA2030 with prioritisation of individual projects and programmes.
• Comfortable building relationships at all levels of the EA and Defra, and able to work as part of a dispersed team.
• Comfortable challenging constructively and driving high standards for all communications and engagement activities.

Contact and Additional Information

This is a hybrid role with flexible working patterns, including home and an Environment Agency office. Occasional travel may be required. We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome flexible working arrangements, including job sharing.

Responding to incidents is a central part of our work. You may be required to have an incident role and be available to respond or provide support during incidents. Training and workplace adjustments will be available to support this role.

Interviews are planned towards the end of October. For further information, please contact sam.elfer@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competencies

• Communicates Effectively
• Engages Others
• Influences and Persuades Others
• Builds and Sustains Relationships

Note: If applying from the Civil Service, Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant upon appointment. We are an inclusive employer and welcome flexible working arrangements, including job share. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for recruitment. For information about becoming a supplier on government frameworks, visit the Crown Commercial Service site.

Artificial intelligence may be used to support your application, but all examples and statements must be truthful and from your own experience. Do not plagiarise. The Environment Agency aligns with Civil Service guidance on the use of AI.