Jobs

Job description 

Are you passionate about good quality science and its use in decision making? Do you want to use your scientific knowledge and skills to create better places for people, wildlife and the environment? The Covid pandemic has highlighted the need for the best available evidence and effective science communication to underpin policy decisions. This role provides a unique opportunity to apply strong science leadership to address current and emerging environmental challenges.

The Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist provides strategic direction and scientific advice to ensure that our decisions are underpinned by sound evidence. The role leads the Chief Scientist’s Group, the focal point for scientific knowledge and professional expertise across the Environment Agency. The Chief Scientist’s Group leads on a wide range of science, research, analysis and evaluation for the Environment Agency, putting strong science and rigorous analysis at the heart of our work.
The Chief Scientist is responsible for:
• identifying future environmental risks, developing an understanding of them and informing how the business responds;
• providing scientific advice in response to major environmental and other incidents;
• leading our relationship with counterpart Chief Scientific Advisers across Government, Universities and the UK Research Councils on areas of shared interest.

The team  

The Chief Scientist’s Group comprises around 150 scientists and technical specialists working in research, innovation, evaluation, data analysis and reporting, and horizon scanning. They have an extraordinarily diverse range of specialisms and many are leading experts in: air quality, water quality, waste and recycling, climate change, groundwater, hydrology, geomorphology, fisheries science, ecosystems, data science, ecotoxicology and science communication. The team works closely with the Flooding and Coastal Risk Management Research Team and Social Science Team.

Experience/skills required  

This senior leadership role requires scientific credibility to work with expert scientists internally and externally, a PhD (or equivalent) in an environmental science area is desirable in order to achieve this but is not essential.
An understanding of the UK environmental policy landscape and UK environmental science sector is essential.
Strong people leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to build relationships with external partners are essential.
Experience of influencing within a large, complex organisation is essential.
The ability to communicate scientific information in a clear, non-technical way is essential.

Additional information  

We are committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. Diversity: it’s in our nature.

Please apply here