NATURE AND PLACE MANAGER
Climate change will significantly impact the Environment Agency’s work. As part of our commitment to protecting people and nature, we are responsible for:
- Taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Regulating low-carbon and renewable energy schemes
- Helping people and wildlife adapt to the impacts of a changing climate
We consider the effects of severe weather and a changing climate in everything we do. To ensure we are prepared, we:
- Assess how climate change affects the environment and what it means for our customers—for example, the impact on water demand and availability
- Design our flood defences and infrastructure to remain effective in a changing environment
- Develop robust plans to respond to emergencies such as floods and droughts
- Provide advice, guidance, and technical information to help customers and partners factor in climate change—for instance, supporting local planning authorities in using future flood allowances when assessing flood risk
By taking these steps, we help communities, businesses, and the natural environment build resilience to climate change.
Nature and Place
The EA is a place-based organisation addressing local environmental risks and opportunities. We coordinate action and investment to protect nature and enhance community well being, leading efforts in sustainable growth and land management.
The Nature and Place leadership area ensures spatial planning expertise supports land protection and nature restoration. It leads on agriculture and water management to improve habitats, recover species, and support fisheries, aligning with government targets.
We influence policy, advising EA leadership and national partners to drive effective environmental outcomes. Our work is informed by operational experience and environmental reporting. Key relationships include government, regulators, Arm’s Length Bodies, farming groups, businesses, and non-government organisations.
We have four Grade 7 Manager positions available as part of our Nature and Place Manager recruitment campaign.
Nature Recovery Manager
Do you want to help tackle the interlinked biodiversity and climate emergencies? Can you provide professional leadership to help us meet our nature conservation duties and help create better places for people and wildlife across England? This role offers you the opportunity to make a real difference.
Nature is the natural world, with an emphasis on biodiversity, the variety of life, ecosystems and natural processes on Earth. Nature is currently degraded in England and Nature Recovery is the process of nature returning to its former, better state, able to cope with future change and provide all the benefits we depend on for our wellbeing and sustainable economic growth.
As a Nature Recovery Manager, you will work across the Environment Agency, wider Defra group and partners. You will shape and direct our organisational response to conserving and enhancing biodiversity and nature recovery.
Your expertise will inform government policymakers, provide technical input on key environmental programs, guide teams to integrate biodiversity conservation and lead the biodiversity profession nationally, offering expert guidance and support.
This role will also play an active role on the Leadership Team for the E&B Planning and Place section of the EA.
Land Contamination Manager
Do you want to lead a team of talented individuals working at the forefront of contaminated land policy? Are you a strategic thinker with a proven track record of delivery and experience in land contamination?
We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our team as Land Contamination Manager.
You will be part of the Agriculture and Land team in the Environment and Business Directorate. We lead on strategy for agriculture and land management, Intensive Farming, advocacy, data management, technical and policy guidance and regulation and enforcement for agriculture and materials to land.
As Land Contamination Manager you will provide strategic leadership and manage delivery across several high profile work areas which include materials to land, contaminated sites, soils and abandoned metal mines. You will develop programmes of work to support and deliver on contentious issues arising from the regulation of urban and rural land, helping to support Government growth ambitions.
You will build positive relationships with Defra and other government departments, delivery partners, and other policy and operational delivery teams which will help you to develop and take forward ideas for safe and sustainable land use.
You will play an active role on the Leadership Team for E&B Nature and Place.
Growth Strategy and Place Manager
In Planning and Place we coordinate action and investment to protect nature and enhance community well-being, leading efforts in sustainable growth and planning policy. We influence the spatial planning framework to ensure that it supports protects the environment, is mindful of future environmental capacity, working with government, regulators, other arms length bodies, and non-government organisations.
We have a fantastic post available within Planning and Place as the Growth Strategy and Place Manager who will lead on our strategy for ensuring the inclusion of environmental and nature priorities in the delivery of growth. You will also provide strategic leadership across a number of high-profile work areas.
We work with government departments on the design and delivery of their growth policies and lead the delivery and implementation of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies programme. This is a time of organisational change, and you will lead the transformation of how we deliver effectively within places.
This role will play an active role on the Leadership Team for the E&B Planning and Place section of the EA.
Planning Advice Manager
Do you want to ensure that we deliver the best possible places for now and the future?
In Planning and Place we coordinate action and investment to protect nature and enhance community well-being, leading efforts in sustainable growth and planning policy. We influence the spatial planning framework to ensure that it supports protects the environment, is mindful of future environmental capacity, working with government, regulators, other arms length bodies, and non-government organisations.
We have fantastic new post available within Planning and Place as the Planning Advice Manager who will lead on the development and delivery of our planning advice – a role with critical influence and responsibility under the new government. You will also provide strategic leadership across a number of high-profile work areas. Please read the Additional Information Pack attached for more information.
This role will also play an active role on the Leadership Team for the E&B Planning and Place section of the Environment Agency.