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 Business Partner roles support the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance (STA) Directorate across several high-profile areas, as the organisation evolves to respond to the environmental challenges of the future, set out in our corporate strategy, EA2030. This is a new way of working, as the Internal Communications and Engagement (ICE) team builds cohesion across directorates. Each will oversee a portfolio of work but collaborate to share insight and provide resilience. The roles will involve planning and co-ordinating activity right across STA, ensuring our people receive the right information, in the right format, at the right time.

Role purpose and areas

• Transformation: working with the Director for Service Transformation to understand the totality of change programmes across the EA, and help describe the narrative for change.
• People: working with the People and Inclusion directorate to understand themes such as our People Plan and Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
• Strategy: working across the organisation to help colleagues understand their role in delivering our corporate strategy, business plan, and the STA Leadership Team’s role in leading the organisation.

You will:

• Work across a portfolio of themes, acting as a vital link between the directorate and the wider ICE team.
• Interact widely and be responsible for developing effective relationships with stakeholders and customers across the organisation.
• Plan strategy, share and drive best practice, set editorial standards, executional consistency, ensure adherence to organisational priorities and our brand.
• Align communications and engagement with the central narrative and assure corporate discipline to improve the consistency of messages.
• Champion the highest standards and help our people engage with the things that truly matter.
• Influence the teams and departments you work with to maximise the effectiveness of our work.

The team

The business partner team is a small cross-functional team of communication and engagement experts. We are part of the Internal Communications and Engagement team, which sits within the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance Directorate. We collaborate with Defra Group Communications and other colleagues to:

• ENABLE effective communications and engagement by ensuring we have the right tools, skills and ways of working.
• PLAN AND DELIVER integrated activities, continually improving how we engage with our people.

Experience/skills Required

• Your ability to persuade, influence and reason with others will be vital in this role.
• You will bring experience and understanding of how planning and delivering excellent communications and engagement activities can bring operational improvements.
• You will need to be able to balance wide understanding of the challenges facing the Environment Agency in delivering EA2030 with the prioritisation of individual projects and programmes.
• You will be comfortable in creating and maintaining relationships at all levels of the EA, and Defra. You must be able to work as part of a dispersed team.
• You will be comfortable challenging constructively and driving high standards for all communications and engagement activities.

Contact and additional information

This is a hybrid working role and you will work flexibly from home and from your nearest Environment Agency office. There will be a requirement for occasional travel. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to, or provide support during, an incident. This may attract additional payment. Training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.

Interviews will take place towards the end of October. Please contact sam.elfer@environment-agency.gov.uk for further information.

Competences

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

Important notes for applicants

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.

The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and would not confer Crown Servant status on appointment. For applicants who currently work in local government or other specified bodies, continuous service rights may apply for redundancy calculations. If you are unsure of your status, contact your HR Team. The Agency uses Central Government frameworks/contracts for external recruitment.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements must be based on your own experience. Please review guidance on appropriate and inappropriate use of AI on the Civil Service Careers site.

Expiry status This posting does not indicate that the role is closed; interviews are scheduled for late October.

Location and related postings

Locations include Kidderminster, Birmingham, Oldbury, West Midlands, Solihull and other nearby locations. We publish related roles and updates as they arise.