Technical Assistant

Job Description Are you ready to make a real difference? Join one of our water industry regulation teams and help to address serious and complex environmental issues within the water industry. You’ll bring your enthusiasm and organisational skills to the role to provide crucial administrative and technical support, helping our teams achieve their business targets and secure positive outcomes for people, wildlife and the environment. Guided by your Team Leader, you will provide this support with tasks including: Managing information systems, carrying out routine interpretation of data and preparing basic reports. Managing responses to internal and external queries. Technical regulatory administration tasks, e.g. arranging interviews and liaising with disclosure officers and lawyers. Supporting the team to respond to information requests and enquiries from customers. Maintaining and updating our filing systems to ensure information is accessible and accurate. Processing procurement requests for the team, including PPE and environmental incident response equipment. Providing administrative support to team leaders and senior officers as needed, for example taking minutes and recording actions during meetings. A flexible approach is essential, and you will be expected to manage your own time, plan and prioritise your work, and effectively manage the expectations of the teams you support. While previous experience in a similar role would be beneficial, a positive attitude and enthusiasm are just as important. We 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'll provide comprehensive training and ensure you have the tools, equipment, and protective clothing needed to carry out your duties safely and effectively. The team Our water industry enforcement and compliance teams are dedicated to addressing serious and complex performance issues within the water industry, driving improvements in compliance and environmental standards. Based in one of the listed locations, your team will work closely with water companies to achieve these goals. You will be based from Red Kite House, Wallingford. You’ll mostly be office based but a willingness to travel is essential e.g. for team meetings/training. Experience/skills Required Ideally, you will have previous regulatory experience and/or a scientific background, but if this is your first role or a career change, we would expect you to draw upon previous scientific knowledge whilst undertaking relevant training. Essential: GCSE Grade 4 / Grade C or above in a science related subject (or equivalent). Experience of working in a team. Proven capacity to develop effective working relationships with others. Understanding of others’ priorities and the ability to support them in achieving their goals. The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written. Confidence in using common Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel. Awareness of the importance of handling sensitive information appropriately. Desirable: Previous administrative or secretarial experience. Full UK driving licence. Contact and additional information We’d love to inspire you to apply If you have any questions, please contact us at regulationresourcing@environment-agency.gov.uk Interviews are expected to take place across the fortnight commencing Monday 19th January, via MS Teams. You will be required to take on an incident role to help us respond effectively to incidents or support business continuity. These roles may attract additional pay, with full training and flexible working arrangements provided. We offer a range of incident roles and will work with you to find the best fit. A reserve list will be maintained, and you may be offered similar roles in different locations that align closely with this position. Competence 1 Achieves Results Description Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results. When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer. Please note that we may select this question as a lead competency for scoring if we receive a high volume of applications. Q. Please describe a time when you have had to work without any guidance, to achieve the right result. Competence 2 Communicates Effectively Description Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing. When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer. Q. What is your preferred method of communication at work? Competence 3 Manages Self Description Description: Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency. When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer. Q. Please can you describe one of the most challenging or demanding times you have faced in your working life. If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. 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. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team. 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. The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information. 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 . Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.