Senior Evaluation Advisor

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment.
The Agency is transforming its regulation of the water industry. The last two years have seen an investment in new resources, and new powers such as those in the Water (Special measures) Act. We are looking for a Senior Evidence Advisor to work in our Evaluation Team. Focus on ‘what works’ in the sphere of or the Environment Agency’s water industry enforcement actions, providing evaluation leadership in this topic area;
Make recommendations for change to senior leaders with the aim of improving our operational performance, efficiency and effectiveness.
The role will involve working with managers across the Environment Agency who are responsible for our water enforcement strategy at conceptual and operational levels. You will help them to understand how effective and cost–effective our interventions are, whether we’re using the best mix of interventions, and whether our interventions are generating deterrence which changes the behaviours of the industry. You will also commission and manage work delivery through contractors, and sometimes in partnership with academia, or colleagues across Defra Group.
We use evidence, expertise, engagement, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy and legislation, and secure resources to do more for the environment. We’re a dispersed team and work with a wide range of technical and project teams across the country.
Taking HM Treasury's Magenta Book as a foundation you will understand a broad range of evaluation methods including qualitative and quantitative techniques and how to deal with complexity. Our focus is regulatory enforcement and so if you have background enforcement evaluation experience from another sector, or an understanding of water regulation from an operational perspective, that would be a bonus. You will have exemplary project and contract management skills and ideally some line management experience.
We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, and as a national role the working location is flexible / hybrid. We use smart tools to stay connected, but some travel and overnight stays may be required.
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions, and we aim to hold interviews inearly January.
Scientific Knowledge
Applies scientific knowledge (various disciplines, depending on team role) to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.
Describe a time when you have successfully persuaded a key stakeholder to follow your advice on the direction of a major project or piece of work.
What do you think are the main issues for England’s water environment at present? What do you think are the main issues for England’s water environment at present? What do you think are the main issues for England’s water environment at present? Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment
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.
For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website .