Environment Agency

We are the Environment Agency. We protect and improve the environment. Acting to reduce the impacts of a changing climate on people and wildlife is at the heart of everything we do. We reduce the risks to people, properties and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. We protect and improve the quality of water, making sure there is enough for people, businesses, agriculture and the environment. Our role in ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection has never been more critical.

This is a pivotal time to join our Operations team at the Environment Agency. As the Government embarks on its decade of renewal with economic growth as a core mission, our role in ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection has never been more critical.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Operations, Growth, Permitting and Monitoring to join our senior leadership team. This new role will expand our operational leadership capacity, particularly in areas crucial to sustainable growth: planning advice, permitting, major infrastructure development consent orders, and high-quality environmental evidence for decision-making. As Director, you will lead national services comprising over 1,200 talented and purpose-led staff. Working closely with the Executive Director of Operations, you will set operational direction and strategic focus while driving performance and assurance. Your influence will extend across the Environment Agency, government departments, and industry, playing a crucial role in shaping sustainable growth and climate change initiatives for a better future in England. You will lead a high-performing team including three Deputy Directors and an executive office, while being part of our broader Environment Agency community of executive managers and national Director’s forum. As incident response is central to our work, you will also take on an incident role, with full training and support provided.

We are looking for individuals who bring extensive leadership experience at Director level or equivalent, with a strong track record of delivering large-scale, complex work at pace. You will need exceptional political awareness and established networks across government departments and industry. The ideal candidate will demonstrate outstanding emotional intelligence and consensus-building skills, equally comfortable engaging with apprentices in the field or senior ministers in Whitehall. Your vision for developing team capabilities and commitment to working as ‘one team’ will be essential in empowering our people to improve the world around them. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence sustainable development and environmental protection at a national level while leading a talented team dedicated to making a real difference.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the Environment Agency on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference OBRZB. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by 23:59 on Sunday 2^nd March.