Senior Evidence Advisor - 34834
CompanyEnvironment Agency
Location
Exeter, England, United Kingdom
Employment TypeFull-time
Posted At5/24/2026
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Analytics are greyed out due to low classification confidence (27.0%).
Occupation TypeBiological scientists
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£40,300
(£20.67 per hour)
Immigration salary list rate applies
✓ On immigration salary list - lower visa fees apply
Above analytics are generated algorithmically based on job titles and may not always be the same as the company's job classification. You can also check detailed occupation eligibility, and salary criteria on our UK Visa Eligible Occupations & Salary Thresholds page.
Disclaimer: Hunt UK Visa Sponsors aggregates job listings from publicly available sources, such as search engines, to assist with your job hunting. We do not claim affiliation with Environment Agency. For the most up-to-date job details, please visit the official website by clicking "Apply Now."
Description
line management duties for some members of the workstream.
You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided.
Job Description
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Environment Agency’s Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) Programme as the lead for Surveillance Networks Workstream. The Defra-led NCEA programme is gathering broad scale and comprehensive data on our ecosystems including freshwater, estuarine and coastal water environments to reveal their benefits for people and the economy - their natural capital. This evidence and insight will ensure that policy and decision makers consider the true value of nature.
You will provide leadership and assurance of these NCEA monitoring networks ensuring high‑quality technical outputs are delivered. You will lead a team of water monitoring environmental specialists and subject matter experts. The team designs and delivers a suite of surveillance networks covering freshwater surface and ground waters and estuaries and coasts. The data from these networks is used to develop statistically robust and nationally representative evidence on ecosystem condition. You will coordinate and lead the work of the team and support delivery to ensure the workstream meets its objectives and the overall aims of the programme.
Your responsibilities will include:
You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided.
Job Description
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Environment Agency’s Natural Capital Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) Programme as the lead for Surveillance Networks Workstream. The Defra-led NCEA programme is gathering broad scale and comprehensive data on our ecosystems including freshwater, estuarine and coastal water environments to reveal their benefits for people and the economy - their natural capital. This evidence and insight will ensure that policy and decision makers consider the true value of nature.
You will provide leadership and assurance of these NCEA monitoring networks ensuring high‑quality technical outputs are delivered. You will lead a team of water monitoring environmental specialists and subject matter experts. The team designs and delivers a suite of surveillance networks covering freshwater surface and ground waters and estuaries and coasts. The data from these networks is used to develop statistically robust and nationally representative evidence on ecosystem condition. You will coordinate and lead the work of the team and support delivery to ensure the workstream meets its objectives and the overall aims of the programme.
Your responsibilities will include:
- providing technical leadership and setting the overall strategy and plan for the workstream and the work packages within it;
- co-ordinating delivery of the workstream plan and supporting the work package leads and workstream project manager to resolve technical issues, manage risks/issues and ensure work is delivered to the required technical/scientific assurance standards;
The team
The post will sit in the Strategic Evidence Design & Assessment (SEDA) team. We are part of the Chief Scientist’s Group in the Environment & Business (E&B) Directorate. We are a friendly and supportive team of data and evidence specialists, with a great reputation for delivering key information to drive the organisation’s water environment activities. Working in a dispersed way you can expect a friendly welcome and engaging work environment.
Experience/skills Required
We’re looking for someone with excellent technical leadership and people skills, who can demonstrate the following:
- experience in or knowledge of water monitoring network design
- background in water environmental knowledge or experience in water management.
- knowledge of data management and/or data analysis for the water environment;
- strong team ethic with the ability to balance wider team pressures, workloads and risks;
- strong communication skills, with the ability to lead, motivate, organise, and enhance team working;
- good organisational and planning skills with the ability to prioritise and deliver results effectively under pressure;
- ability to take initiative, be flexible, solve problems, and make risk-based decisions;
- experience in working and building relationships with a variety of customers, partners and /or stakeholders;
- previous line management experience (desirable).
Contact and additional information
You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll support you to find a role to suit your needs and circumstances. Appropriate training will be given.
As this is a national role the working location is flexible, but you’ll have an EA office base location. Some travel and overnight stays will be required.
Please see Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact jennifer.taylor@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams during week beginning 15th June or 22nd June.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
Length of contract
Up to 23 months
Competence 1
Leads People
Description
Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency.
Question: Please give an example of when you have demonstrated leadership that has inspired and motivated others to achieve a successful outcome.
Competence 2
Delivers Results Through Others
Description
Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.
Question: Please give an example of when you have harnessed resources of other people/team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.
Competence 3
Scientific Knowledge
Description
Applies scientific knowledge to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.
Question: Describe a time when you applied your scientific knowledge of the water environment to provide sound, science-based evidence to a customer
Competence 4
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Please give an example of where you have had to engage and influence senior stakeholders to adopt innovative outputs.
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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Question: Please give an example of when you have demonstrated leadership that has inspired and motivated others to achieve a successful outcome.
Competence 2
Delivers Results Through Others
Description
Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.
Question: Please give an example of when you have harnessed resources of other people/team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.
Competence 3
Scientific Knowledge
Description
Applies scientific knowledge to provide sound, science-based evidence to our internal and external customers.
Question: Describe a time when you applied your scientific knowledge of the water environment to provide sound, science-based evidence to a customer
Competence 4
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Question: Please give an example of where you have had to engage and influence senior stakeholders to adopt innovative outputs.
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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know 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.