Technical Drainage 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.
We are looking for an urban drainage advisor with sewer hydraulic modelling experience.
You will join an experienced and supportive national team working to design and implement new regulatory approaches, enabling strategic change in the way we regulate and work with sewerage companies in delivering their storm and emergency overflow improvement programmes.
You will apply your experiences of building and using sewer hydraulic and modelling tools to inform our guidance to the sector and assure programme delivery.
Working proactively with Environment Agency teams and external organisations, the role will lead the development of audit processes for water quality investigations carried out under the Storm Overflows Assessment Framework and Environment Act. You will also be responsible for co-developing training courses on Urban Pollution Management (UPM), responding to technical queries, and coaching staff on sewerage and water quality investigations.
We’re a dispersed team and work with a wide range of teams across the country involved in water industry regulation and water quality planning.
You’ll have the option to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training will be available to support you with your incident role should you choose to have one.
This post is part of the national Water Quality Regulatory Development team in the Water Regulation directorate.
We use evidence, expertise, and innovation to enhance and support delivery, influence policy, legislation and secure resources.
A relevant degree such as civil engineering, geography or environmental science is desirable, although alternatives may be considered, as will demonstration of relevant continued professional experience.
You will have experience of sewer modelling and/or river quality impact modelling carried out for Urban Pollution Management (UPM) studies, including model audits. You will also have knowledge of environmental planning and the regulation of Water and Sewerage Companies.
As well as technical knowledge, you will need to have excellent organisational skills and be effective at coaching others. Experience of embedding new approaches into our/your business will help, as the role will involve developing new processes through collaborative relationships across dispersed teams.
Office base location is flexible, and you should be prepared to occasionally travel or stay overnight to attend meetings.
hulme@environment-agency.Interviews will be held using MS Teams during week commencing 12th January 2026.
Numerical modelling and forecasting – interprets data and information to forecast the state of the environment, including large-scale trends such as climate change, and more localised forecasting such as pollution, flooding and water availability.
Describe sewer and/or river quality impact models you have developed, their purpose, the audit or quality assurance processes followed, problems encountered, and how these were resolved.
Describe how you have applied environmental planning, along with your technical and professional skills, to have a significant positive impact on water quality in the wastewater sector/environment.
Uses variety of methods, including direct instruction, coaching and feedback skills to help others to develop.
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 .