Deputy Director, Asset Operations Services

The Deputy Director for Asset Operations Services plays a key role in the Environment Agency, reporting directly to the Chief Engineer and Director of Standards, Asset Management and Engineering.

This role is accountable for leading on standards for asset operations to manage safety, environmental risk and other standards, consistently coordinating the work of local asset operators, maintainers, and responders. The role holder will work closely with the Deputy Director for Engineering and Standards and the Deputy Director for Asset Management Systems to ensure that the Agency's FCRM, navigation and water assets are maintained efficiently, sustainably, and effectively.

This role will support the Chief Engineer in maintaining engineering technical resilience in the department and across the organisation ensuring that the Environment Agency has the right engineering skills and capacity to safely, reliably and sustainably meet corporate goals. This role should lead on operator, maintainer, and responder asset management skills in particular.

The Deputy Director for Asset Operations Services will:

Own and manage national guidance for local asset operators, maintainers and responders that ensures safe, effective and sustainable practices.

Manage a programme of improvements to asset management systems, navigation services, reservoir safety reforms and processes including continuous improvement in related digital asset management tools to meet requirements of the asset management strategy.

Advise on commissioning of training and professional development support required to build and maintain asset management and engineering skills to meet needs.

Experience/skills required

You will have held a senior accountable asset management or engineering role in a major infrastructure or safety-critical organisation. You must demonstrate strategic oversight of asset operation, maintenance, and contingency planning, alongside excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills. Experience in leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering national programmes is essential. You will have a deep understanding of UK infrastructure policy, asset management standards, and statutory frameworks. Familiarity with reservoir safety, navigation services, and digital transformation is highly desirable.

A professionally qualification with a relevant institution (e.g. IAM, CIWEM, ICE, or equivalent) such as Chartered status / Fellowship is desirable but not essential.

Contact and additional information

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.

A candidate briefing call will take place for candidates interested in hearing more about this role. This will take place on
4 December at 1pm
. For an invitation to this call please contact: PA.-

Candidate Assessments will take place week commencing
19th January 2026.

Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

For further information please contact: PA.-

The Environment Agency values difference. That is why we are fully committed to being an inclusive employer. 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.

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.