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 clearly include any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

The Environment Agency protects and improves water quality in our rivers, lakes and seas. In Operations Catchment Services, the Innovative Permitting team plays a central role in shaping how we embed new, nature‑based and catchment‑focused approaches to improve the water environment. We assess emerging permitting and regulatory solutions - including wetlands, catchment interventions and alternative approaches - to ensure investment is targeted where it achieves the greatest benefit for people and nature.

As a Senior Water Quality Planner in our nationally dispersed team, you will provide high‑quality technical expertise and lead on evaluating innovative regulatory methods that support long‑term improvements to water quality. You will combine environmental data, modelling outputs and regulatory insight to help shape the future of permitting in England. Working closely with colleagues across the Environment Agency and the water industry, you will influence strategic decisions and ensure our advice is robust, evidence‑based and accessible to a range of technical and non‑technical audiences.

You will be a national technical leader, providing timely responses to complex queries, coordinating input across teams and retaining oversight of technical assurance. Your work will help identify where innovative permitting approaches can most effectively enhance water quality in river catchments and lakes. We share skills across the team and build robust relationships with our customers to ensure they understand and can act on our expert advice.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence innovative regulatory approaches that will protect and enhance the water environment now and for future generations.

In Innovative Permitting, we enable and test new regulatory approaches to address emerging environmental, water quality and legislative challenges. The role focuses on embedding nature‑based and catchment‑scale solutions into permitting practice and requires confidence, curiosity and flexibility when working in complex or pioneering areas.

You will:

• Work closely with policy and guidance colleagues to shape and trial new permitting approaches.
• Use proficient numerical skills and water quality modelling experience with SAGIS/SIMCAT, RQP.
• Identify opportunities for nature‑based solutions to enhance water quality and wider environmental outcomes.
• Apply understanding of price review and regulatory processes to support evidence‑based decisions.
• Design and deliver WQ modelling training to support team development.
• Collaborate across a dispersed national team and contribute to technical analysis.
• Interpret and communicate complex information using GIS, statistical tools and ecological insight, including lake ecology.
• Demonstrate awareness of Farmscoper.

This role is a national role, with flexible working options. You will need to travel occasionally for meetings and training, including overnight stays.

Everyone joining us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when needed. Having an incident role is essential to working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment.  Your candidate pack includes further information. 

For more information on what you can expect working for us, please explore our Environment Agency Careers site.

For more information about the role please contact Nadine Siebdrat, email [email protected] or call +447795237599 or Nick Diggle, email: [email protected]  or call +447770792809.

Interviews will be held w/c 4 May 2026 via MS Teams