Flood Defence Team Member

£25,308 + £2,186 outer London weighting where applicable rising to
£27,293 for Team Member Level 2C after 2 years subject to satisfactory performance

Bridgewater, Cattawade, Chichester, Chippenham. Ealing, East Stourmouth. Edgware, Ely,
Guildford, Hartley Witney, Halesworth, Ipswich, Kidderminster, Launceston, Lea Marston, Oxford,
Reading, Redruth, Romsey, Rothley, Seaford, Sittingbourne, Ware (Upper Lea Valley and Lower Lea
Valley), Wimbledon, Winsford, Winterbourne Gunner, Yalding.

Grade: Team Member Level 2A

Are you passionate about the outdoors and eager to contribute to a greener, more sustainable
future? This is your chance to be part of a dynamic team working on the front line to combat
the climate emergency and address environmental challenges like flooding, drought, and coastal
changes.

This is an exciting time to join the UK’s biggest environmental organisation and influence how
we do things in the future. As part of the Environment Agency, you will play your part in
protecting and improving the environment. We are working with government, local councils,
businesses, civil society groups and communities to meet these challenges and at the same time
make our environment a better place for people and wildlife.

Job Responsibilities:

• Operate, maintain and respond to flood and coastal risk management assets, ensuring their
  optimal performance in safeguarding communities.
• Tackle incidents and emergencies related to flooding and other environmental challenges,
  playing a vital role in our 24/7 standby roster. Your dedication will be compensated in
  addition to your basic pay.
• Contribute to initiatives, such as installing flood barriers, building sandbag walls,
  deploying high-volume pumps and providing assistance to affected communities during flood
  situations.
• Utilise a wide range of tools and equipment, including chainsaws, strimmers/brush cutters,
  heavy plant machinery, boats, and more. Your proficiency will be key to preventing and
  mitigating flood risks.
• Participate in various tasks such as structural maintenance, vegetation management, small
  construction projects, soft engineering methods, beach maintenance, and culvert and grille
  clearances.

Your work will be critical both to improve the environment and to protect local communities
from flooding, and you will operate, maintain and respond to a range of assets, from a large
flood relief channel and flood storage reservoirs to local flood defences.

Your day-to-day duties will involve working in both urban and rural environments and will
typically involve a mix of asset operation and response, asset maintenance, for example
vegetation control and small construction tasks and incident response. You can expect to use a
variety of tools and equipment as part of your role, this could be small hand and powers tools
up to larger ride-on plant and tractors. Use of IT devices will also be required to track work
tasks and communicate with team members.

Why choose us:

• Meaningful Impact: As an emergency responder, you’ll be at the forefront of safeguarding
  communities and ecosystems. Your efforts will directly contribute to our ambitious goal of
  achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2030, leaving a lasting positive impact on the environment.

• Diverse and Exciting Role: Enjoy a diverse range of duties that involve structural
  maintenance, vegetation management, small construction projects, soft engineering, beach
  maintenance, and responding to flood incidents. Every day will be different and fulfilling.

• Training and Support: Practical ability and awareness of health and safety risks are
  beneficial but, if you have no prior experience? No problem! As a new Flood Defence
  Team Member* you will be enrolled into the Water Environment Worker Apprenticeship. You will
  also be provided with further training in the use of tools, equipment, and health & safety
  protocols, and be mentored by experienced colleagues to ensure you have all the knowledge and
  skills needed to succeed in your role.

• Continuous Learning: Enhance your practical abilities and environmental awareness through
  hands-on work. We encourage and support further development, including specialist training when
  required.

• Team Environment: Work as part of a close-knit team of like-minded individuals who share
  your passion for the environment. Together, we make a real impact and create a better world for
  all.

As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve, to achieve this we welcome
applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion.

What you will need

• Ability to work in all weather conditions in a mix of urban and rural environments, as part
  of a dedicated team.
• A valid UK manual driving license.
• Ability to travel to your base depot within 60 minutes in order to respond to incidents and
  meet urgent business needs.

We’re looking for people with:

• A passion for the outdoors and a genuine commitment to protecting the environment.
• Literacy and numeracy skills, along with a willingness to learn our in-house systems and
  use IT devices.
• Some understanding of site health and safety requirements, but full training will be
  provided.

Where you will work

You will be expected to travel to your depot to check in daily and then will be dispersed from
there in smaller teams to carry out the field work tasks for that day within our geographical
area. More on this and the working patterns will be explained at the interview. 

What’s in it for you?

You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you’ll feel
supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and
shape your career. Specifically, and where appropriate, we will support you to complete and
achieve our Water Environment Worker apprenticeship. What’s more, you’ll have access to our
great benefits package including:

• Starting salary of £25,308 rising to £27,293 for Team Member Level 2C after 2 years subject
  to satisfactory performance + £2,186 London Weighting allowance where applicable.
• A generous career average pension scheme.
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees working a standard business hours
  pattern – our Flood Defence Team Members work non-standard business hours pattern, for example
  a 9-day fortnight so holiday entitlement will be adjusted accordingly.
• Great career opportunities.
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.
• This is a full-time role. In certain cases, there may be the option for a job share or
  working set days a week rather than full time, but full days will need to be worked.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the UK’s biggest environmental organisation. Join us
and together let’s tackle the challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable
future.

Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment
Agency

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. Please see our candidate
guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please note that providing false or misleading information at any stage of the application or
recruitment process may result in withdrawal of your application, or where applicable,
disciplinary action in line with internal processes

We will maintain a reserve list for 12 months and may offer similar roles at other locations
linked to this position.

Please note: Candidates selected for interview will be notified by email at least five days in
advance. Please check both your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you don’t miss our
message.

*Please note, job title will differ on appointment due to internal alignment.

Advert close: Monday 13th October.
Interviews to be held w/c Monday
3rd November.