GROUNDWATER RESOURCES TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - 31750

Groundwater Resources Technical Specialist - 31750
Number of jobs available
1
Region
South East
City/Town
Reading , Wallingford
Building/Site

DEFRA GRP EA KINGS MEADOW HOUSE, RG1 8DQ, DEFRA GRP EA RED KITE HOUSE, OX10 8BD

Grade
Staff Grade 5
Post Type
Permanent
Role Type
Environment & Sustainability
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time
Salary Minimum
£41,617
Closing Date:
06/09/2025, 23:55 hours
Job description attachment 1
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Candidate pack
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Security checks level
Basic Check
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced geoscientist with skills in technical leadership, groundwater quality and land contamination management in Thames area. Customers include internal teams, water companies, industry, developers and local authorities.
In this role you will provide technical leadership and expertise for the work of the team relating to land and water quality, WINEP (Water Industry Investment Delivery and Planning); permitting and planning work relating to groundwater quality and land contamination; voluntary remediation; ongoing Part 2A work.

You will:

• Provide expert advice to internal teams and external partners to assist compliance with environmental policy, legislation, and best practices.
• Produce and review technical reports that support operational decisions and team business plans.
• Engage nationally to share and adopt best practices, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Build technical resilience within your team by mentoring, training, and guiding colleagues in your area of expertise.
• Develop strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation and beyond, promoting collaboration and influencing positive change.
• Lead and contribute to projects that drive innovation, improve regulatory outcomes, and introduce evidence-based new ways of working.

This is your chance to make a real difference in an area where groundwater is essential to both people and the environment.
We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job-share, so please include any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises Having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment.
The team
The role will sit within the Thames area Groundwater and Contaminated Land team. The team includes specialists in groundwater resources, groundwater quality, land contamination and surface water protection. We currently have three area offices in Reading, Wallingford and Farnham. This is an experienced and well-connected team, inclusive and supportive of each other and colleagues. The role will contribute to the area team and be part of the wider national groundwater protection network.
Experience/skills required
We are seeking a hydrogeologist/geoscientist with at least 5 years relevant experience and qualified to at least degree level in a relevant discipline.

You will be able to demonstrate most of the following experience and skills:

• a relevant geoscience related degree or equivalent experience and a relevant postgraduate qualification
• a professional qualification or Chartered status is
• ability to construct conceptual models, understand contaminant transport in the sub-surface and undertake hydrogeological risk assessment.
• experience in analysing data and information to make decisions and solve problems
• strong communication and interpersonal skills and experience of communicating complex hydrogeological results to non-specialist audiences-both written and verbal.
• knowledge of Environmental Permitting Regulations
• knowledge of Town and Country Planning
• knowledge of Water Framework Regulations
• knowledge and experience of investigation and remediation of land and groundwater contamination.
• ability to influence customers, and colleagues through clear, well-reasoned arguments.

Contact and additional information
Role location is flexible but occasional travel will be required. To discuss this role, contact: Kevin Mullane – Kevin.Mullane@environment-agency.gov.uk or Jenny Thomas – Jenny.Thomas@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Interviews are likely to take place in September and there will be a technical assessment relating to the role.
The Environment Agency at this time, do not prohibit the use of AI when completing applications when used as a form of technological assistance. This is deemed to be equivalent to pre-existing spelling and grammar checkers. AI must however be applied by candidates without providing false information or misrepresenting work history, experiences, skills, or competency answers. Your answers to the capability questions will be used to establish interview selection. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating answers.
Competence 1
Achieves Results
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.
Please give an example of a time when external factors required you to reassess your priorities? How did you adapt your approach to ensure key objectives were still met?
Competence 2
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Description
Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.
Describe a situation where your technical knowledge and wider environmental understanding has allowed you to meet and balance the needs of customers and the environment.
Competence 3
Technical Skills
Description
Please can you identify the skills you possess that you think are most relevant to the role of a hydrogeologist/geoscientist?
Please use this capability to show the breadth of your technical skills that you’ve not had the opportunity to include in the previous capability answers. These can include the number of years of experience you’ve had in specific hydrogeological assessment techniques, remediation, data management and visualisation skills/experience.