33272 - Water Quality Permitting Strategy Senior Advisor - National


Company:	Environment Agency
Salary:	£54,940
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	National, YO1 7PR
Working pattern:	Hybrid - 4 days remote
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	23 Jul 2026
Closing date:	22 Aug 2026

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Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Advisor to join our Water Quality Permitting Strategy Team within the Environment & Business (E&B) department. This role is an exciting opportunity to be at the centre of the Environment Agency to improve England’s water quality. Through a variety of tasks, the focus of our work is the regulation of water discharge activities. The team focuses on:

Developing permitting strategies to address complex water quality issues across operators and industries.

Creating and embedding evidence-based policies to improve regulatory outcomes.

Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to align permitting with environmental challenges.

Streamlining processes and adopting digital tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

As a Senior Advisor you will:

Lead and support complex water quality permitting projects to meet legal and environmental standards.

Develop and implement long-term strategic approaches to water regulation.

Be customer focussed, seeking opportunities to work with others across government, other Agencies, industry and environmental bodies.

Analyse water quality data to inform policy and permitting approaches. Drive innovation and continuous improvement in regulatory practices.

Be flexible and creative, sometimes working in unfamiliar territory and without established processes or guidance to base decisions on.

Be supported in the role by specialists within the team and wider organisation.

Examples of responsibilities for the post are connection to sewer guidance, the development of a non water industry permitting strategy and identifying the related pressures on water quality, and the permitting of water transfers.

The Environment Agency expect you to develop your professional and personal skills to help you succeed and flourish in your career.

The Environment Agency are 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.

The team

You’ll join the Environment and Business, Water Regulation – Water Quality Permitting Strategy Team. We’re a national dispersed team who use evidence, engagement and innovation to support delivery, influence policy and secure resources for regulation of the water industry and wider water sector. We collaborate with National and Area teams, to deliver impactful regulatory permitting strategies.

In Environment and Business we promote a positive, inclusive, and supportive culture where everyone feels valued.

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