Overview

We are looking for a strong lawyer and leader for the role of Senior Managing Lawyer Environmental Regulation (Water). This role will lead and manage a team providing legal support covering environmental regulation and civil litigation in relation to water resources and water quality (and related areas). This includes advice on environmental law and regulation including any resulting appeals and civil court challenges, including judicial review and injunction applications. You will be a role model for the Environment Agency’s leadership behaviours. You will provide leadership on and will be responsible for your team providing timely, risk-based and high quality legal advice and litigation covering regulation, regulatory appeals and judicial reviews in the field of water and related regulation.

Responsibilities

• Lead, plan and monitor the strategic direction of the team’s contribution to support the delivery of business plans.
• Develop and maintain relationships at management level, providing an intermediate escalation point on legal issues for internal Executive Managers and Managers to anticipate and resolve issues, promoting effective partnership working.
• Own, manage and deliver agreed cross-cutting issues on behalf of Legal and Audit Services.
• Lead a team of Senior Lawyers working on environmental regulation and litigation relating primarily to water quality and resources regulation.
• This team is part of the National and Environmental Regulation Legal Team, and advises Area operational staff on site based regulation.

Qualifications / Experience

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with a current right to practise in England.
• Experience of managing and leading people.
• Experience of handling complex technical issues.
• Significant experience advising on one or more of: judicial review; regulation, civil penalties and appeals to PINs and/or the First and Upper Tier Tribunals; public law.
• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation or ability to get up to speed rapidly.
• Ability to collaborate with other senior lawyers on cross-cutting issues.
• Ability to write detailed legal briefings for senior/government level and respond to parliamentary questions; ability to brief orally at director/board/government level.
• Experience working at national level and/or with government.

Role Details

• Location: The role can be based at any of our main office locations (Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Peterborough, Warrington, Leeds, Reading). Some travel will be required. Interviews in October 2025.
• Employment type: Full-time or job share; inclusive of flexible working patterns and preferred arrangements to be stated on application.
• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Job function: Legal

Additional Information

You will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with a current right to practise in England. The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; details on service and redundancy considerations apply as described in the candidate pack. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns including job share. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria. The Environment Agency uses Central Government frameworks for recruitment; see Crown Commercial Service for supplier information.

How to Apply

Your application should outline how you would lead your team to provide an outstanding legal service, and demonstrate your experience against the top competencies: Leads People; Influences and Persuades; Shapes organisational approach and delivery. Details in the candidate pack.