Engagement Specialist

Job Description

We are looking for an Engagement Specialist who will have the opportunity to work on high-profile regulatory projects and issues of public interest across Cumbria and Lancashire. You will support two key areas of the Environment Agency’s regulatory work – chemical regulation and landfill management – helping to protect communities and the environment from the impacts of pollution and waste.

You will build strong relationships with our regulatory teams, local authorities, operators, partners, and communities, ensuring open, consistent, and effective communication on often complex and sensitive issues. Working collaboratively, you will lead the development and delivery of engagement and communication plans that support our regulatory work, build public confidence, and enable informed decision-making.

Using our Working with Others approach, you will co‑design engagement strategies that support compliance, innovation, and transparency across regulated industries. You’ll ensure that engagement activity is proactive, coordinated, and outcome‑focused – helping reduce misunderstanding, manage reputational risk, and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

You’ll be responsible for tracking and reporting engagement outcomes, sharing learning, and ensuring best practice is embedded across the teams you support. By helping secure understanding and external support for our work, you will play a key role in maintaining trust in the Environment Agency’s regulation of chemicals and landfill.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to environmental incidents or provide business continuity support. This may attract an additional payment. Full training and support will be provided.

The Environment Agency is fully committed to inclusivity and flexible working. We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Join us in a workplace where every voice is heard, and every contribution matters.

The team:
You’ll be part of the Customer and Engagement Team within the Cumbria and Lancashire Area, working closely with colleagues from Regulated Industry, including Chemicals, Landfill, and Waste Regulation teams. You will collaborate with technical specialists, regulatory officers, and engagement professionals to design and deliver engagement activity that supports compliance and environmental protection.

• Have experience creating, organising, and delivering engagement materials, events, and communications for complex or technical projects.
• Understand and can apply the Environment Agency’s Working with Others principles.
• Are highly organised and can efficiently manage records, documents, and engagement logs, providing guidance or training to others where needed.
• Can influence and advise others to make informed engagement decisions.
• Are self‑motivated and able to lead and deliver engagement planning at pace.
• Have excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the confidence to work across multiple teams, operators, and communities.

Contact and additional information:
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given. Travel across Cumbria and Lancashire may be required, including visits to sites not easily accessible by public transport, so a valid driving licence and ability to travel are advantageous. Flexible working arrangements are supported.

Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact mark.syke Applications are "blind" assessed using your answers to the competency questions. Interviews will be held face to face in mid to late February 2026. 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.

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…