Deputy Director, Asset Management Systems

The Deputy Director, Asset Management Systems is a strategic leadership role within the Environment Agency’s Flood & Coastal Risk Management Directorate. This postholder will lead the development and delivery of national asset systems, ensuring that our infrastructure data, digital tools, and operational frameworks support safe, resilient, and sustainable flood risk management across England.
You will be responsible for shaping the agency’s approach to asset data governance, digital innovation, and systems integration, ensuring that our asset management capabilities are future-ready and aligned with statutory, environmental, and operational priorities. Working closely with internal and external partners, you will champion the use of data and digital technologies to improve decision-making, investment assurance, and incident response.
Leading a team of around 50 professionals, including technical specialists, data analysts, and systems developers, you will foster a collaborative culture that values innovation, transparency, and shared accountability. You will oversee the development of national asset systems, including the strategic roadmap for digital tools, data standards, and operational protocols that underpin our flood defence infrastructure.
This role is central to shaping the future of asset management in the Environment Agency, ensuring that our systems are robust, responsive, and aligned with the needs of communities, regulators, and delivery partners.
Full training and flexible alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.
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One of three Deputy Directors reporting to the Chief Engineer/ Director Standards, Asset Management and Engineering, this team leads the development and delivery of national asset systems for flood and coastal risk management.
Comprising around 50 specialists across data, digital, and operational disciplines, the team works in close partnership with engineering, incident response, and investment colleagues. You will have held a senior leadership role in asset management or infrastructure systems within a complex, safety-critical organisation. You must demonstrate strategic oversight of digital systems, data governance, and operational frameworks, alongside excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
You will have a deep understanding of UK infrastructure policy, asset management standards, and statutory frameworks. Familiarity with digital transformation, systems integration, and investment assurance is highly desirable.
You will work from a flexible office base at one of the Environment Agency offices or depots, located throughout England. You will be expected to travel relatively frequently, including into London and Birmingham, and to visit EA assets across the country as required to fulfil your role and incident response duties.
ChiefEngineer@environment-agency.Candidate Assessments will take place week commencing 19th January 2026. ChiefEngineer@environment-agency.For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
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