Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead stakeholder engagement and build relationships to support environmental initiatives.
- Company: Join the Environment Agency, dedicated to protecting our natural world.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous pension, flexible working, and paid volunteering days.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on environmental issues while developing your communications skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in stakeholder engagement and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career progression opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 46600 - 64300 £ per year.
Salary: £54,940 + London Weighting Allowance where applicable
Location: Blandford Forum, Bodmin, Bridgwater, Chippenham, Exeter, Farnham, Huntingdon, Ipswich, Kidderminster, Leeds, Lichfield, Lincoln, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Penrith, Pevensey, Preston, Rotherham, Shrewsbury, Southampton, Tewkesbury, Wallingford, Warrington, Welwyn Garden City, West Malling, Worthing
Permanent / Full time
Staff Grade: 6
We’re looking for multiple External Communications Advisors, experts in their field, who can lead, model and engage in relationship building with a wide range of stakeholders representing different sectors and interests, and direct our approach in partnership-building across England. At the Environment Agency, we’re dedicated to supporting and protecting the places we and our wildlife call home. And that starts with the elements. From air quality and water management to our natural habitats and soil health.
Public interest in environmental issues continues to grow, which we welcome and encourage. In response, we are enhancing how we manage our relationships with key stakeholders, including MPs, Mayors and other influential partners. That’s where you come in, from planning and co-ordinating project activities to engaging with stakeholders, this people-facing position ensures we provide all sorts of assistance and information to those that rely on us.
About the role
You’ll be scanning and analysing emerging local issues, identifying potential challenges early and building strong, trusted and effective relationships with key local stakeholders across your region. You’ll be a key member of the Area Leadership Team, supporting the Area Director, to shape, develop, and deliver a strategic, place-based relationship management approach aligned with national priorities and local needs. You’ll work closely with national colleagues including the External Affairs and Government Relations Teams who will lead a national community of practice focused on driving consistency, best practice and high-quality stakeholder engagement.
What you’ll need:
- Experience in high-level external stakeholder engagement, or managing complex, politically sensitive projects.
- Demonstrable experience in developing and delivering external relations strategies with government, the private sector and/or civil society organisations.
- Ability to build relationships quickly with individuals and institutions representing different sectors.
- Knowledgeable of the local political landscape.
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially briefing under pressure.
- Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and actively encourage others to consider diversity issues in their work.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is attuned to the political, social and economic developments in their local and regional area, is highly organised, and keen to further develop their skills in strategic communications, high-level stakeholder engagement and strategy development.
Please note that your current location in England will not hinder your application choices as we’d be happy for you to be aligned to any of the Environment Agency offices.
We’re holding an information session on Teams for this role on 13th February between 12.00pm and 1.00pm. You do not need to have applied to join the call, but you will need to register via the careers site. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from the team, ask questions about what they do and their experiences working for the Environment Agency.
What is in it for you:
The Environment Agency is fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. 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. Everyone joining a new role will receive a warm welcome and full support, including the equipment, training and guidance needed to thrive. You will be required to take on an incident role to help us respond effectively to incidents or support business continuity. These roles may attract additional pay, with full training and flexible working arrangements provided. We offer a range of incident roles and will work with you to find the best fit.
What’s more, you will have access to our great benefits package including:
- Salary up to £54,940 + London Weighting Allowance where applicable.
- A generous Pension contribution at 19% (in addition to your salary!).
- 27 days holiday + 8 bank holidays.
- 2 additional days for environmental outcomes – paid volunteering time.
- Flexible and hybrid working – we embrace remote-first where possible.
- Generous public sector pension.
- Overtime/standby pay for incident work.
- Strong internal development and progression.
- Inclusive and supportive culture.
If you’re looking for purpose, impact, and communications leadership opportunities – this role is for you!
Application guidance
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. Please see our candidate guidance on our careers site for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency.
Closing date for applications: 22nd February 2026. Interviews will be conducted in early March.
Senior External Communications Advisor employer: ENVIRONMENT AGENCY-1
Contact Detail:
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY-1 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior External Communications Advisor
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its values, especially around environmental issues. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals and be ready to share specific examples of your past work that demonstrate your skills in stakeholder engagement.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the position.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got all the latest roles listed there, and it’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find loads of resources to help you ace the process!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior External Communications Advisor
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, make sure to be yourself! We want to hear your unique voice and experiences. Avoid using generic phrases and instead share specific examples that showcase your skills and achievements.
Tailor Your Application: Take the time to customise your application for the Senior External Communications Advisor role. Highlight your relevant experience in stakeholder engagement and external relations strategies, and show us how you can contribute to our mission at the Environment Agency.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role is all about communication, make sure your written application reflects your excellent verbal and written skills. Keep it clear, concise, and engaging – we want to see how you can effectively convey your ideas!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our careers site! It's the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, you'll find all the info you need about the role and our team there.
How to prepare for a job interview at ENVIRONMENT AGENCY-1
✨Know Your Stakeholders
Before the interview, research the key stakeholders relevant to the Environment Agency. Understand their interests and how they align with the agency's goals. This will help you demonstrate your ability to build relationships and engage effectively during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your written and verbal communication skills. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully briefed stakeholders under pressure or managed complex projects. This is crucial for a role focused on external communications.
✨Demonstrate Political Awareness
Familiarise yourself with the local political landscape and current environmental issues. Being able to discuss these topics intelligently will show your awareness of the challenges the agency faces and your readiness to tackle them.
✨Emphasise Organisational Skills
Be prepared to talk about your organisational skills and attention to detail. Share specific examples of how you've managed multiple projects or stakeholders simultaneously, as this role requires strong organisational capabilities.
