Water Resources Manager

Job Description

You will lead a department in Operations Catchment Services, with over 70 technical experts, who deliver a national water resources service including:

• Shaping and scrutinising Water companies' statutory Water Resource Management Plans
• Providing expert input to the National Framework for Water Resources
• Managing programmes to deliver sustainable abstraction
• Drought planning and drought management
• Developing talent and skills in water planning
• National modelling for water resources and groundwater

As an inspiring leader, you will champion health, safety, and wellbeing; foster inclusion; and actively support the growth and development of your people. You will lead the operational delivery of services, ensuring resources are used effectively, priorities are met, and performance is efficient and demonstrable.

You will also take a wider leadership role as part of the Operations Catchment Services Leadership Team.

• Providing expert input to the National Framework for Water Resources
• Managing programmes to deliver sustainable abstraction
• Drought planning and drought management
• Developing talent and skills in water planning
• National modelling for water resources and groundwater
• Shaping and scrutinising Water companies' statutory Water Resource Management Plans
• Storing and managing critical water resources data for national planners and water companies
• Champion health, safety, inclusion, and growth & development of staff
• Ensuring the operational delivery of services, effective use of resources, and performance efficiency
• Leading within the Operations Catchment Services Leadership Team

• Authentic leader, with a strong team focus and belief that great leadership protects people and the environment
• Passion for developing individuals and teams to their best, creating an open, inclusive, trusting culture
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, customer focus and well‑honed influencing skills
• Strategic thinking, spotting links and connections to identify opportunities while simplifying to maintain a clear focus on what matters
• Working knowledge of water resources management and an understanding of environmental, political and economic pressures affecting the water sector

We value a diverse workforce and welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled, female and LGBT+ candidates.

Please include information regarding preferred working arrangements.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. The candidate pack provides more information on this.

This role can be based at any of the Environment Agency offices across England.

Contact Stewart Mounsey, Deputy Director, Operations Catchment Services via ocsadm
.

Applications are “blind” assessed using your employment history and your answers to the competency questions.

Interviews will be held via MS Teams on 27 January 2026.

If you consent, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.

Competence 1 – Leads People

Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency.

Question:
What motivates you personally about leading delivery teams, and how have you translated your motivation into inspiring and leading a diverse team to deliver challenging outcomes?

Competence 2 – Delivers Results Through Others

Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.

Question:
Give an example of when you have worked with technical delivery teams to create space in workplans to take on new duties / competing priorities.

Competence 3 – Influences and Persuades Others

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:
Describe a situation where you had to influence stakeholders with competing priorities to accept a complex technical decision.

Competence 4 – Develops People

Makes sure team members have the skills, knowledge, and experience to successfully carry out their…