The role
We’re looking for a transformational leader who will drive change in the way we design, maintain and operate assets to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. You will be our Director of Asset Management and Engineering and act as the Chief Engineer for the Environment Agency ensuring we make safe, reliable and sustainable decisions.
You’ll take responsibility for all our asset management and engineering standards and oversee technical assurance arrangements to ensure consistent and effective application of standards. You’ll collaborate with and influence other infrastructure and standards organisations to achieve consistently high expectations and help achieve our goals through and with others.
You’ll be the head of profession for asset management and engineering, developing and nurturing the skills and capabilities we need to ensure we have the right technical resilience across the organisation. You’ll lead our corporate asset management strategy, reporting regularly to our Executive Directors on asset management and engineering risks and mitigation measures.
You’ll lead a department of 125-people and build a high performing “Technical Authority” team to influence the wider organisation and make our strategic objectives a reality through effective asset management. Collaboration is key, and you’ll work with the EA’s most senior managers as well as maintain a high-profile network of external relationships, including with other UK infrastructure organisations, engineering and standards institutions and government departments.
The key accountabilities of the role are to:
- Influence the strategic direction of Environment Agency and shape the Technical Authority function and the Asset Management Strategy to deliver our goals.
- Act as head of profession for Engineering and Asset Management across the whole organisation, achieving effective integration across broad and complex business areas.
- Lead, develop and embed a culture of effective change management to adapt to, optimise and support the changing needs of customers.
- Originate, champion and lead on initiatives for change to deliver efficient asset management systems and services that support & improve business delivery.
- Establish and influence policy /agreements internally and externally to support Environment Agency / DEFRA objectives.
- Manage risks and provide technical assurance resulting in well-managed and visible safety, corporate and reputational risks related to EA assets.
- Oversee engineering and asset management skills and capabilities, driving availability of the right technical expertise and making sure the EA has the technical resilience needed.
- Understand and harness the complexities of organisational culture and politics (internal and external), in order to influence and achieve results.
The following qualifications are expected for this role:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate comparable technical know-how, in a relevant subject.
- Chartered Engineer status or equivalent demonstration of engineering skills and standing.
- Institute of Asset Management Diploma or equivalent may be an advantage.
- Status of a Fellow of an Engineering Institution or equivalent may be an advantage.
- The Environment Agency values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community who wish to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.
- We aim to create and maintain a diverse workforce (including our Board and Executives) that better reflects the UK’s economically active population. Therefore, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), disabled, female and LGBT+ candidates who are under-represented across our workforce.
- We will consider flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
- At the moment most work is from home. Future normal working patterns, once COVID pandemic risks reduce are to be determined. However, regular travel (several times per month), to London, Birmingham or other principal Environment Agency office locations may be required.
The following skills, abilities and experience are expected:
- Experience of managing senior people and a large department along with inclusive leadership abilities to enable a diverse workforce to thrive and develop.
- Excellent collaboration and stakeholder (both internal and external) management skills with strong customer management and influencing skills.
- A strong record of company-wide service delivery, influencing organisational strategy and shaping and leading technical services to meet ambitious goals for people and the environment.
- Recognition as a role model in the strategic leadership for multi-disciplinary standards, safety and the environment.
- Will have held, or demonstrated the capability to hold, a senior responsible engineering role at director level in a major complex infrastructure or allied safety critical programme.
- Substantial asset management experience including influencing internal and external partners to align all parts of the asset management system in order to manage risk and maximise value.
- Have will a proven track record in confidently communicating technical ideas to any audience.
