32844 - Groundwater Protection Officer
| Posting date: | 23 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £34,320 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 March 2026 |
| Location: | Reading |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 32844 |
Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for a geoscientist with skills in data management, groundwater quality and land contamination management to work in Thames area.
Customers include internal teams, water companies, industry, developers and local authorities.
In this role you will provide quality technical advice on behalf of the team, relating to land and water quality, WINEP (Water Industry Investment Delivery and Planning); WFD, permitting and planning work relating to groundwater quality and land contamination.
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. Alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
The Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team protects groundwater in an area where people and wildlife are heavily reliant on this resource. Our work includes advice to internal and external customers supporting environmental permitting across a range of activities. We respond to planning consultations and give technical and regulatory advice on land contamination. We are currently a mostly dispersed and remote team that connect frequently using Microsoft Teams.
Experience/skills required
We are seeking someone who wants a career in groundwater protection and who is versatile, self-motivated and can quickly contribute to the work of our busy team.
Desirable skills:
Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant geoscience discipline such as geology, earth sciences or geochemistry
Have knowledge of land and groundwater contamination issues and of how groundwater resources are managed and regulated
Be a great communicator with an ability to present clear, well-reasoned arguments based on your understanding of a range of environmental issues
Have good IT skills and be able to use of a range of computer systems including GIS and MS Office
Have experience of undertaking hydrogeological risk assessments and understand how to apply their outputs
Demonstrate a good knowledge of relevant environmental legislation
Be supported to undertake a role in the Environment Agency’s wider response to pollution and flooding incidents
Customers include internal teams, water companies, industry, developers and local authorities.
In this role you will provide quality technical advice on behalf of the team, relating to land and water quality, WINEP (Water Industry Investment Delivery and Planning); WFD, permitting and planning work relating to groundwater quality and land contamination.
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. Alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
The team
The Groundwater and Contaminated Land Team protects groundwater in an area where people and wildlife are heavily reliant on this resource. Our work includes advice to internal and external customers supporting environmental permitting across a range of activities. We respond to planning consultations and give technical and regulatory advice on land contamination. We are currently a mostly dispersed and remote team that connect frequently using Microsoft Teams.
Experience/skills required
We are seeking someone who wants a career in groundwater protection and who is versatile, self-motivated and can quickly contribute to the work of our busy team.
Desirable skills:
Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant geoscience discipline such as geology, earth sciences or geochemistry
Have knowledge of land and groundwater contamination issues and of how groundwater resources are managed and regulated
Be a great communicator with an ability to present clear, well-reasoned arguments based on your understanding of a range of environmental issues
Have good IT skills and be able to use of a range of computer systems including GIS and MS Office
Have experience of undertaking hydrogeological risk assessments and understand how to apply their outputs
Demonstrate a good knowledge of relevant environmental legislation
Be supported to undertake a role in the Environment Agency’s wider response to pollution and flooding incidents