34420 - Advisor – NCEA monitoring network design
| Posting date: | 16 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £43,198 per year, pro rata |
| Additional salary information: | Fixed Term Up to 20 months |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 May 2026 |
| Location: | UK |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 34420 |
Summary
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.”
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the way we collect data in the freshwater ecosystems within the (Natural Capital Ecosystems Assessment; NCEA) project. The NCEA is a flagship multi-agency science programme with a high profile with policy makers in Defra. The focus of the Environment Agency is to deliver the benefits and outcomes for the water environment.
Working with the network designer, you will provide technical advice on ecological, physicochemical and hydromorphological monitoring in freshwaters. This role will primarily focus on lakes, with some input into rivers and small streams. You will have good technical knowledge of freshwater monitoring gained from a number of years’ experience in the field and/or in the use of data, and an interest in learning more and advancing our approach as an organisation.
You will deliver work individually and through projects with partners and contractors with the aim of ensuring our NCEA monitoring networks fulfil their potential to provide a unique view on the condition and change in condition of our small streams, lakes and rivers. Some experience of project management would be advantageous.
Specifically, you will
Work on refining and developing our lakes, small stream and river monitoring, including managing funded projects
Build networks with experts (internally and externally) to answer difficult technical challenges and find solutions.
Be involved in technical decision making around innovative monitoring techniques such as eDNA.
Work with colleagues to advise on the ongoing delivery of the small stream, lakes and the river surveillance networks.
Contribute to planning the analysis to maximise the insights that our unique co-located data can provide.
This is a temporary post until February 2028.
The team
The Strategic Evidence Design and Assessment (SEDA) team (within the Chief Scientist Group) ensures the best environmental evidence is at the heart of decision making.
This post will join a team focused on supporting and enabling delivery of the Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment Programme.
Working in a dispersed way you can expect a friendly and engaging work environment. We have a strong team dynamic, believe in the development of our staff and embrace diversity.
Experience/skills required
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone keen to develop their career in freshwater monitoring, expand their knowledge, and contribute to new and innovative national monitoring programmes. You’ll also have the chance to build strong professional networks with colleagues and partners across the EA and Defra family
Background and knowledge:
Degree or higher qualification in environmental discipline
Strong experience of collecting and analysing environmental data in the freshwater environment.
Up to speed on existing and emerging practice in water data science.
You will:
be able to work on your own initiative,
be able to communicate technical issues clearly and be able to adapt to a range of audiences,
work in ‘virtual teams’ to deliver outcomes with people across and beyond the organisation
You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the way we collect data in the freshwater ecosystems within the (Natural Capital Ecosystems Assessment; NCEA) project. The NCEA is a flagship multi-agency science programme with a high profile with policy makers in Defra. The focus of the Environment Agency is to deliver the benefits and outcomes for the water environment.
Working with the network designer, you will provide technical advice on ecological, physicochemical and hydromorphological monitoring in freshwaters. This role will primarily focus on lakes, with some input into rivers and small streams. You will have good technical knowledge of freshwater monitoring gained from a number of years’ experience in the field and/or in the use of data, and an interest in learning more and advancing our approach as an organisation.
You will deliver work individually and through projects with partners and contractors with the aim of ensuring our NCEA monitoring networks fulfil their potential to provide a unique view on the condition and change in condition of our small streams, lakes and rivers. Some experience of project management would be advantageous.
Specifically, you will
Work on refining and developing our lakes, small stream and river monitoring, including managing funded projects
Build networks with experts (internally and externally) to answer difficult technical challenges and find solutions.
Be involved in technical decision making around innovative monitoring techniques such as eDNA.
Work with colleagues to advise on the ongoing delivery of the small stream, lakes and the river surveillance networks.
Contribute to planning the analysis to maximise the insights that our unique co-located data can provide.
This is a temporary post until February 2028.
The team
The Strategic Evidence Design and Assessment (SEDA) team (within the Chief Scientist Group) ensures the best environmental evidence is at the heart of decision making.
This post will join a team focused on supporting and enabling delivery of the Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment Programme.
Working in a dispersed way you can expect a friendly and engaging work environment. We have a strong team dynamic, believe in the development of our staff and embrace diversity.
Experience/skills required
This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone keen to develop their career in freshwater monitoring, expand their knowledge, and contribute to new and innovative national monitoring programmes. You’ll also have the chance to build strong professional networks with colleagues and partners across the EA and Defra family
Background and knowledge:
Degree or higher qualification in environmental discipline
Strong experience of collecting and analysing environmental data in the freshwater environment.
Up to speed on existing and emerging practice in water data science.
You will:
be able to work on your own initiative,
be able to communicate technical issues clearly and be able to adapt to a range of audiences,
work in ‘virtual teams’ to deliver outcomes with people across and beyond the organisation
You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided.