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, as with all Senior Managing Lawyer roles.
• 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.

Role details

This role is full time or a job share that overall delivers full-time cover. We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies. Please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

Experience / Skills Required

You will have:

• Experience of managing and leading people;
• Experience of handling complex technical issues;
• Significant experience advising on one or more of the relevant legal areas: (1) judicial review (2) regulation, civil penalties and appeals to PINs and/or the First and Upper Tier Tribunals; (3) public law;
• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation or ability to get up to speed rapidly;
• Confidence and experience to assimilate a new area of environmental or other law quickly;
• Ability to collaborate with other senior lawyers effectively on cross-cutting issues;
• Ability to write detailed legal briefings for use at senior and government level, and correspondence in response to parliamentary questions;
• Confidence and ability to brief orally at director/board/government level;
• Experience of working effectively at a national level and/or with government.

Role-specific requirements

Qualified solicitor or barrister with a current right to practise in England.

Notes:

• If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service.
• For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
• We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. Please include information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
• We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. If you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts, please visit GOV.UK for more information.

Artificial intelligence note: AI can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Plagiarism may result in withdrawal of the application and further consequences per Civil Service guidance.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Legal

Details of how to apply are included in the candidate pack. Interviews to take place in October 2025.

Location: Bristol, Exeter, Birmingham, Peterborough, Warrington, Leeds, Reading (national scope). Some travel may be required.