Environment Agency, Area Director, Thames

Posting date:	19 March 2026
Salary:	£81,000 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	12 April 2026
Location:	Wallingford
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	453927/2

Summary

This post is an Environment Agency post at EA Grade Deputy Director and at EA salary £81,000. It is not a post at Civil Service Pay Band 1 as indicated on the left -hand side bar of this advert. Further confirmation of the EA grade and terms and conditions can be found in the candidate pack

This is a vacancy working for the Environment Agency, part of Defra Group. EA are not Civil Servants so terms will reflect that. Anyone moving from the Civil Service will lose their CS terms and benefits starting new employment with the EA

As an Area Director, you will play a vital role in our mission to protect and enhance the environment while supporting sustainable growth, ensuring people, nature and businesses can prosper together. You’ll empower teams to deliver our five year strategy, EA2030 change for a better environment, and respond effectively to incidents, whilst ensuring that our collective efforts prioritise sustainability and inclusivity.

You will:

Lead Operational Delivery in Area: You will lead through and oversee multi-skilled individuals and navigate various legislative objectives. You will have a clear picture of the delivery priorities in the Thames Area and collaboration with others will be vital.

Engage with a Variety of Stakeholders: You will manage relationships with Ministers, business leaders, MPs, local authorities, and community members. Your ability to empathise, operate politically and communicate clearly the role of the Environment Agency will be essential.

Prioritise Health, Safety and Well-Being: Your commitment to fostering a safe work environment and effective risk management will be key to success in the role.

Embed a culture of inclusion: Your ability to role model and inspire an inclusive culture will be an integral part of the role. Enabling and encouraging diverse voices to be heard in our decision making will also be key.

Make Informed Decisions: You will need to make decisions as issues arise, using the best available evidence, understanding the consequences and escalating risks where appropriate.

Drive Innovation and Improvement: You will enable a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring we strive to be a high performing delivery body in government.

Collaborate with Peers: You will work alongside peers and national strategic teams, influencing changes that enhance operational delivery.

The Team:

Now is the time for proactive environmental stewardship. We want you to be part of this transformative journey and join our team committed to making a difference.

You will lead over 400 people working in the Thames Area, supported by a dedicated Area Leadership Team and peer group of 18 other Area Directors.

If you’re ready to help us lead the way towards a sustainable future, we want to hear from you.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.