Programme Specialist - South West - 31124

We value a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community wishing to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.

The Programme Specialist sits at the heart of our asset and programme delivery activities, an influential senior leadership position that enhances and develops great working relationships to deliver outstanding results. You will hold accountability for the performance reporting of projects within the Hub portfolio, using the management dashboards to understand your Hub’s performance in managing data quality and compliance on key delivery metrics effectively. You will manage the workload delivery within your Hub’s programme. You will have a good understanding of your hub’s programme data and performance against financial forecasts and gateways, Getting into Contract, resourcing, carbon and other key information. Through this information you will escalate key issues to your Delivery Manager and beyond when necessary.

Reporting to the Delivery Manager, you will work closely with others to ensure delivery of our programme and to lead key business aspects of the Integrated Delivery Management Team. This role acts as the conduit between delivery on the ground and more strategic elements of our work. Using strong interpersonal and influencing skills, you will provide direction to guide and mentor your team to ensure effective and efficient project delivery, alongside senior representatives from other internal teams and external partners. You will have demonstrated strong commercial acumen in contract management and developing effective and trusting delivery partner relationships.

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. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack.

The team: We are the Project and Programme Delivery team, part of Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM). We create a better place through excellence in project and programme management. Our award-winning team is at the heart of integrated project and programme delivery. We collaboratively deliver sustainable asset management projects throughout their lifecycle to reduce flood risk, deliver environmental improvements and reduce carbon, resulting in added value and a greater sense of shared ownership with local communities.

Experience/skills Required:

• An engineering, project management or environmental related discipline ideally with a project management qualification and chartered membership of a relevant professional body.
• As an experienced leader, you’ll have a proven track record of successfully leading people through change and delivering complex programmes of work in collaboration with others, harnessing their skills, promoting innovation, and driving improved performance.
• Extensive experience managing complex stakeholders, operating across all levels of an organisation, demonstrating strong interpersonal, collaboration, influencing and negotiating skills. You will have strong mentoring skills to support your teams in the delivery of their work.
• Significant experience in managing programmes of work, plus one or more of the following areas is essential:

• Project governance
• Commercial and contract management
• Project management of engineering and construction projects
• Project management in Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) activities

Those applying will need to demonstrate solid knowledgebase in programme management principles.

Contact and additional information:

Please note: This role does NOT qualify for sponsorship, so you should contact UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) or visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration, where you can seek professional advice based on your personal circumstances in regard to options for obtaining right to work in the UK.

Benefits include generous pension provision and leave entitlement. Our flexible working supports a healthy work/life balance and offers numerous choices to accommodate the demands that personal commitments may present. Excellent training and learning opportunities are available, including personal and professional development.

Base location can be flexible within the Southwest Hub but with an expectation of co-locating in Hub or delivery partner offices occasionally.

For further information please contact: Sharna.richings@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews due to take place w/c: 07/07/2025

Length of contract: Up to 24 Months

Competence 1: Programme and Project Management

Description: Selects, plans, and manages contractors, programmes, or events to achieve a set of Environment Agency objectives cost-effectively.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills. CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

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.

Competence 3: Leads People

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

Competence 4: Customer and Partner Relations

Description: Consults and collaborates with Customers and Partners effectively through awareness raising, education and combined projects, ensuring buy-in to initiatives and the beneficial promotion of the Environment Agency’s duties and policies.

Role specific license requirements: Driving licence preferred.

Role specific professional membership requirements: Member of a relevant institution such as ICE, CIWEM or APMP.

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.