City/Town
Various
Region
National
Vacancies
1
Salary Minimum
£54,940
Post Type
Permanent
Job ID
35060
Closing date
23 Aug 2026
Published date
21 Jul 2026
Grade
Staff Grade 6
Role type
Industrial, Science
Post type
Full Time, Part Time, Compressed Hours
Security check
Basic Check
Job description
The Environment Agency are fully 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.
Net zero ambition, energy needs and technology and digitalisation advances are driving an expansion and diversification in underground activities that require regulation that protects the environment whilst enabling innovation and growth. This is an exciting opportunity to inform and help shape the Environment Agency's future approach to regulation of these activities.
As a senior advisor for underground activities you will provide technical advice to policy makers, operational staff and permitting officers on facilities that undertake underground activities, to ensure that air, land, soil and groundwater are protected from pollution, whilst local communities are protected from noise pollution. These activities include oil and gas extraction, extraction of minerals (including critical minerals), underground storage of fuels (hydrogen, methane, liquid fuels) and CO2 sequestration, geothermal heating.
You will represent the Environment Agency in a range of forums, including engagement with relevent trade associations, attending conferences, engaging with government policy makers and supporting public engagement events
You will be responsible for producing internal and external facing guidance relating to underground activities and mining waste and briefings for senior leaders, government officials and ministers when required.
You will join our Energy Industries Team based in the Environment and Business (E&B) Directorate.
We are an established team of senior advisors, who are experts in the large energy sectors including Refineries, Power Generation and Combustion, Waste Incineration and Oil and Gas handling and storage. The team is inclusive, friendly and fun. We are supportive of each other, often showing flexibility and coming together to resolve priority issues or manage surges in workload.
You will hold an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering, or equivalent, ideally with experience or additional qualifications in mining.
You will be a Mining Waste Regulation expert with depth of knowledge in Mining Waste Directive, MWEI-BREF, WM3 Hazardous Waste Classification, and oilfield waste management; as well as a sound understanding of containment, standards, hydrogeology, and interpreting geophysics reports
You will have a strong grasp of drilling techniques, well construction, reservoir stimulation (including fracturing), geomechanics, and evaporite diapirs for H2/gas storage.
You will have a proven ability to engage with high profile external stakeholders, able to build relationships and promote collaboration with industry, government organisations and academia.
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
You’ll have an EA Office base location, as a national role the working location is flexible / hybrid.
We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel, some travel and overnights may be required.
Please read the Candidate / E&B Information Pack attached. Any queries, contact [email protected]
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of the closing date.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post. #LI-DNI
- Tell us about a time when you have needed to apply your scientific and technical knowledge of geotechnical engineering or mining waste to support an industrial operation that included underground activities.
- What did you do to enable it to be compliant with environmental legislation and not cause a negative impact on the environment or local communities.
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. Feedback is generally not available at sift stage
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
- Tell us about a time when you took a leading role in delivering a complex piece of work, with multiple deadlines and contributors.
- How did you manage your work alongside that o9f others to ensure to ensure the o9verall objectives were delivered?
- Tell us a bout a time when you have needed to work with multiple stakeholders with diverse opinions to enable delivery of a piece of work. What approach di8d you take to influencing and persuading the different parties and how effective was it?
- Tell us about your approach to a time when you have needed to explain a complex technical principle to an individual or group who had the potential to influence the outcome of a project you were working on, but did not have technical expertise in your area?
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.