31906 - Environmental Planning: Water Quality Specialist
| Posting date: | 19 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,617 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 September 2025 |
| Location: | Wallingford, Oxfordshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 31906 |
Summary
We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual with good planning, communication and data handling skills to help plan and deliver multi-functional environmental benefits, with the primary focus being Water Quality.
The successful candidate will work on a variety of aspects of strategic water planning to understand the risks, find solutions and work with those who can effect change. They will review, challenge and advise stakeholder plans and permissions, and ensure they comply with environmental regulations. They will also be required to understand, analyse and translate a variety of data/information into evidence that can be used to inform and influence decisions by technical and non-technical audiences.
This post is a water quality technical role working both with water companies and internal teams to reduce impacts from sewage discharges. Knowledge and experience of the following would be advantageous:-
• water company price review and asset management plans
• knowledge of sewage treatment works and sewerage network processes and operation including Urban Pollution Management processes and standards
• awareness of measures to protect the water quality of drinking water supplies from diffuse pollution sources
• responding to water quality permit consultations and determination of waste water continuous and intermittent discharge permit limits
• water industry wastewater management
• environmental legislation relevant to sewage discharges and water quality
• supporting local and national working groups and projects
• advising and facilitating resolution of complex or contentious issues
• responding to planning and development consultations
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 incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
You will join the Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) team, made up of specialists in water resources, water quality and catchment planning, working across the Thames Area. We’re a friendly and supportive team of experienced advisors central to environmental decision making. We work with internal and external partners to collate, analyse and share data, providing the environmental evidence to inform our Area’s priorities, and to deliver actions that maximise benefits for people and the natural environment.
Experience/skills required
You will need to be skilled at reviewing data and information and communicating requirements clearly to ensure proposals meet the latest environmental standards and provide the maximum environmental benefit.
• Degree /equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental discipline – for example, but not limited to – Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Engineering, GeoScience, Ecology, Environmental science, Sustainability, Data science and analytics OR substantial relevant professional experience.
• Work experience in a relevant environmental discipline – for example, but not limited to - work for Water companies, Environmental or Engineering consultancy, work in a regulatory role (Government, Public Bodies and Agencies), research and education, Environmental charities.
• A technical background in water quality and an understanding of current pressures facing the water environment and the solutions that can overcome these problems.
The successful candidate will work on a variety of aspects of strategic water planning to understand the risks, find solutions and work with those who can effect change. They will review, challenge and advise stakeholder plans and permissions, and ensure they comply with environmental regulations. They will also be required to understand, analyse and translate a variety of data/information into evidence that can be used to inform and influence decisions by technical and non-technical audiences.
This post is a water quality technical role working both with water companies and internal teams to reduce impacts from sewage discharges. Knowledge and experience of the following would be advantageous:-
• water company price review and asset management plans
• knowledge of sewage treatment works and sewerage network processes and operation including Urban Pollution Management processes and standards
• awareness of measures to protect the water quality of drinking water supplies from diffuse pollution sources
• responding to water quality permit consultations and determination of waste water continuous and intermittent discharge permit limits
• water industry wastewater management
• environmental legislation relevant to sewage discharges and water quality
• supporting local and national working groups and projects
• advising and facilitating resolution of complex or contentious issues
• responding to planning and development consultations
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 incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
You will join the Integrated Environment Planning (IEP) team, made up of specialists in water resources, water quality and catchment planning, working across the Thames Area. We’re a friendly and supportive team of experienced advisors central to environmental decision making. We work with internal and external partners to collate, analyse and share data, providing the environmental evidence to inform our Area’s priorities, and to deliver actions that maximise benefits for people and the natural environment.
Experience/skills required
You will need to be skilled at reviewing data and information and communicating requirements clearly to ensure proposals meet the latest environmental standards and provide the maximum environmental benefit.
• Degree /equivalent qualification in a relevant environmental discipline – for example, but not limited to – Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Engineering, GeoScience, Ecology, Environmental science, Sustainability, Data science and analytics OR substantial relevant professional experience.
• Work experience in a relevant environmental discipline – for example, but not limited to - work for Water companies, Environmental or Engineering consultancy, work in a regulatory role (Government, Public Bodies and Agencies), research and education, Environmental charities.
• A technical background in water quality and an understanding of current pressures facing the water environment and the solutions that can overcome these problems.