The Environment Agency (EA) is fully committed to having an inclusive workforce that reflects 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

We're looking for an experienced and highly capable Workforce Transition Manager to lead the Environment Agency’s approach to workforce change following the publication of the government’s ‘A new Vision for Water’ White Paper.

This role sits at the centre of a high-profile programme and is responsible for managing people impacts of change from proposed significant reforms to the regulation of the water environment and the establishment of a new water regulator. 

You will:

• Lead and coordinate the end-to-end workforce change process arising from organisation and legislative reforms, ensuring activity is structured, legally compliant, and delivered effectively
• Manage formal consultation processes, including Trade Union engagement, ensuring all activity is undertaken appropriately and in line with employment law
• Oversee the transfer process for any staff moves, including consideration of terms and conditions, including pensions, pay and broader reward frameworks, working closely with HR, specialist teams and policy teams
• Ensure alignment of any workforce transition activity with Defra and the other regulators (Natural England, DWI and Ofwat) to support consistent and coordinated management of change
• Ensure that any changes are considered in conjunction with the wider change landscape in EA so that any interdependencies can be identified and appropriately managed
• Identify and manage risks relating to people change, including legal, reputational and workforce impacts
• Establish and maintain clear governance and decision-making routes for workforce transition activity
• Work closely with the Defra and EA programme, HR and business leads to ensure impacts on people and culture are fully understood and considered in decision-making

You will be an experienced workforce change, HR or transformation professional with a strong track record of leading complex people change in a regulated environment.

You will have a strong understanding of employment law and formal consultation processes, with experience managing Trade Union engagement and delivering compliant, well-structured workforce transitions.

You will be supported by the relevant corporate services teams and technical experts.

You will bring excellent communication and influencing skills, able to develop clear and credible change narratives and support leaders and teams through uncertainty.

You will be confident working across organisational boundaries, aligning activity with wider system partners (e.g. Defra group), and applying sound judgement to manage risk and organisational impact.

You will be resilient, pragmatic and delivery-focused, able to lead sensitive and complex change while maintaining trust, clarity and momentum.

You will have an EA office base location; however, as this is a national role, flexible working is supported.

We use smart tools to stay connected and minimise travel. Some travel will be required to attend monthly in person programme and team meetings and workshops, including occasional overnight stays.

For further information, please see the Job Profile or contact [email protected].

Applications are assessed anonymously based on your responses to the questions below. Interviews will be held via MS Teams within two weeks of the closing date.