Senior Managing Lawyer - Water Industry Legal Enforcement - 31097

We are looking for a specialist lawyer with a deep knowledge of both water law and the criminal justice system to support our commitment to improving the performance of the Water Industry. You will lead a team dealing with specialist issues around the water industry such as WINEP, the AMP funding round and the interface between water companies and environmental regulators including Ofwat and the DWI. You will work understand the enforcement and prosecution remit of the organisation and work closely with colleagues across Legal and Audit Services particularly as regards enforcement and prosecution matters.

You will provide proactive, high level, accurate, timely legal advice and support to the organisation, including advising on options and risks and on the implementation of new legislation and government policy (including the Water (Special Measures) Act 2024); support staff to deliver good quality effective casework; ensure staff are up-to-date on legal changes and that senior managers are kept abreast of issues to underpin sound decision making and manage risk.

You will be able to work calmly in a high challenge, pressurised environment ensuring high standards of professional accountability and good governance over your specialist area of enforcement work. 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 clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

The team you will lead consists of 3 Senior Lawyers and 1 Paralegal as part of the wider Enforcement and Prosecution team in Legal and Audit Services. You will report directly to the Deputy Director (Chief Prosecutor) Legal Services. As with all Senior Managing Lawyer posts you will also be required to own, manage and deliver agreed issues on behalf of the Legal and Audit Services Leadership Group.

Experience/skills Required:

• You will be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister of at least ten years standing or call, who is able to advise managers, officers & lawyers upon the direction and conduct of casework in accordance with the requirements of relevant legislation and the Criminal Procedure Rules;
• Experience of managing & leading a team of specialist lawyers;
• Experience of handling complex technical regulatory issues;
• Significant experience of advising on water industry matters, with knowledge of other relevant specialist areas including waste;
• Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of criminal justice legislation and relevant criminal evidence rules and procedures;
• The ability to write detailed legal briefings and correspondence for use at Director, Board, and Government level, and in response to FoI requests, MPs queries, parliamentary questions;
• The confidence and ability to brief orally at Director, Board, Government, Attorney General level; experience of working effectively at a national level and/or with Government.

You will be familiar with the alternative options for disposal of criminal proceedings. You will be familiar with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy, the Victims’ Right to Review policies and fully conversant with the public interest considerations which have to be balanced in regulatory decision making. You will have the highest standards of professional conduct and accountability.

This is a hybrid role and some travel will be required to attend court, conferences and other office locations for meetings.

Interviews are likely to take place on 21 and 22 July 2025.

For more information about this role please contact: Anne Brosnan, Deputy Director (Chief Prosecutor) anne.brosnan@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competence 1: Leads People

Description: Provides leadership that inspires and motivates others to achieve their personal goals and the goals of the Environment Agency. Please provide an example of where you have shown leadership that inspired and motivated others to achieve a common goal in challenging circumstances.

Competence 2: Influences and Persuades Others

Description: 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. Please describe a situation in which you were able to positively influence the actions of others in a desired direction.

Competence 3: Shapes organisational approach & delivery

Description: Informs Government Policy and / or designs, implements and supports an approach to translate it into cost-effective operational activity delivering outcomes for people and the environment. Please tell us about a time you have shaped a new approach to a way of working.

Role specific professional membership requirements:

Current practising certificate.

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 this link for more information.