Title

Should Cost Modelling Technical Specialist – 34355

City/Town

All

Region

National

Vacancies

2

Salary Minimum

£54,940

Post Type

Permanent

Job ID

34355

Closing date

05 Jul 2026

Published date

04 Jun 2026

Grade

Staff Grade 6

Role type

Digital, Engineering, Programme and Project Management

Security check

Basic Check

Job description

We value a diverse workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community wishing to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.

Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises. Having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack.

We are looking for two confident and self-driven individuals with strong leadership skills to help deliver the Should Cost Modelling(SCM) programme. These are two brand new roles associated with the increasing maturity of the SCM programme. Please also refer to the additional document for further details on the roles and full responsibilities

The SCM programme is delivering data structures, standards and processes and tools to enable development and sharing of quality benchmarks, client intelligence and SCMs. Processes will be aligned to existing business processes where possible and delivered through quality contractual requirements where necessary. Significant work has been undertaken to develop a SCM data collection process through the Application for Payment process,and this has been embedded within two existing frameworks and will be required by our two major construction frameworks when these go live. Regarding these construction frameworks, previous work has focused on the capital construction phase.

Further work is ongoing and planned to deliver SCM data structures, standards, processes and tools for the Whole Life Asset Management stages. Digitisation and the delivery of integrated tools which are focused on the benefits to end users will follow.

Two roles are being recruited to help deliver the SCM programme:

Programme Manager

Whole Life SCM Specialist

Please see the candidate pack for more information about the roles.

The Team:

This role sits within the Cost Intelligence Team within Commercial and Framework Management (CaFM) under Portfolio Management, Assurance and Commercial.

CaFM includes the following teams: Commercial Assurance and Improvements, Cost Intelligence, Operational Framework Management, Future Frameworks and the Commercial Centre of Excellence. Together, these teams design, help manage and monitor frameworks used in delivering outcomes for communities.

Experience/Skills Required:
List of sought skills and experiences:
•    Project Management and leadership
•    Asset management experience
•    Effective personal time management skills
•    Familiarity with standard forms of construction contracts (NEC3 and 4) and the infrastructure and construction industry
•    Influencing and collaboration skills across varied levels of the organisation
•    Effective communication skills
•    Appreciation of data processes and flows
•    Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following disciplines: estimating, finance, engineering, project management, contract management, construction processes, programme management
•    Upholding Health Safety and Wellbeing
•    Familiarity with EA project delivery processes 
•    Experience of continued improvement approaches and embedding ways of working
•    Degree in relevant discipline e.g. scientific, engineering.
•    Professional membership, or ambition of CIWEM, IEMA, ICE, AACE, RICS or similar.
Contact and Additional Information:

Benefits include generous pension provision and leave entitlement. Our flexible working supports a healthy work/life balance and offers numerous choices to accommodate the demands that personal commitments may present. Excellent training and learning opportunities are available, including personal and professional development

Base location is flexible with an expectation of co-locating in Hub or delivery partner offices occasionally.

For further information please contact: Richard White - [email protected]

Interviews due to take place w/c: 27/07/2026

#LI-DNI

Competence 1:
Delivers Results Through Others
Competence 1 Description:
Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Please describe a complex project which was delivered by a team you led. Include how you delivered aligned delivery of results through both your team and other stakeholders

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview.
Competence 2:
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Competence 2 Description:
Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Please describe a service which your team delivered, how you ensured that multiple outcomes were achieved efficiently and how different stakeholders were managed.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.
Competence 3:
Manages Change
Competence 3 Description:
Understands role in leading change. Successfully leads change in own team.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.

Question:

Please describe how you have lead a business or process change initiative. Include any particular challenges you faced and how you overcame these.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response. You may consider using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when formulating your answer to the question.

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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.