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.

You will lead, plan and monitor the strategic direction of the team’s contribution to support the delivery of business plans. You will 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. As with all Senior Managing Lawyer roles you will be required to own, manage and deliver agreed cross-cutting issues on behalf of Legal and Audit Services.

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.

The team: You will 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead, plan and monitor the strategic direction of the team’s contribution to support 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.
• Own, manage and deliver agreed cross-cutting issues on behalf of Legal and Audit Services.
• Provide 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.

Qualifications and Experience

• 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 Tribunal; (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 details

You will be a qualified solicitor or barrister with a current right to practise in England.

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 to take place in October 2025.

Please contact Estelle Palin if you would like to discuss the role in more detail: estelle.palin@environment-agency.gov.uk

Additional information

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our 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. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.