Groundwater Protection Officer, South Downs

About Us

The Environment Agency has a broad and varied remit to protect and enhance the environment, with a goal to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for people and wildlife. Water is at the heart of all we do, drinking, washing, recreation, industry and health, our environment and economy depend on this precious resource. Clean and available water is essential and as water becomes an increasingly scarce resource, we need to do more to ensure we protect it.

If you're interested in protecting our water environment, and keen to develop your technical knowledge, analytical skills and project management capabilities, then we want to hear from you.

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. What’s more, you’ll have access to our great benefits package including:

• A salary up to £34,320.
• A generous pension scheme of 19%.
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees,
• Two additional days for paid environmental outcomes giving you the opportunity to take part in community activities.
• Great career opportunities.
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.

Options for flexible and/or part-time working may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Your role:

We are looking for a Groundwater Protection Officer to join our Solent and South Downs Area Groundwater, Hydrology and Contaminated Land Team. We're heavily dependent on our groundwater resource for drinking water and for supporting the environment. You'll play a critical role in safeguarding the quality of our groundwater and ensuring that improvements are achieved. This is a busy and varied role in which you'll provide technical advice, coordinate others, and manage data. You'll support regulation and the delivery of our statutory responsibilities, including the Water Framework Directive.

What will you do:

• Manage the area groundwater quality monitoring programme ensuring area priorities are incorporated into the national commission in line with operational instructions and restrictions.
• Develop the monitoring programme to reflect local issues and risks as well as responding to health and safety concerns on site.
• Analyse and report monitoring data to highlight trends and emerging risks.
• Support response to planning and/or permitting consultations by analysing data, using GIS mapping and relevant geotechnical reports.
• Use data to respond to enquiries, inform teamwork priorities and provide technical advice on incidents involving groundwater.
• Build relationships and engage positively with internal and external customers.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. Full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role. This may attract an additional payment.

What you’ll need:

Essential

• A degree in a relevant environmental discipline (e.g., geology or hydrogeology or relevant environmental science with hydrogeology bias)
• Awareness of groundwater quality issues and relevant environmental legislation
• Professional experience and / or studies regarding the subject of groundwater, hydrogeology or groundwater chemistry

Desirable

• Experience of producing, analysing and presenting a range of environmental data to develop evidence and solve technical issues.
• Good IT skills, with experience of using spreadsheets, databases and mapping systems.
• Good organisational skills/discipline and the ability to plan, track, deliver and evaluate work, meeting relevant standards and timescales.
• A practical approach to problem-solving, articulating solutions in a simple and persuasive way.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others and influence workstreams to ensure water quality outcomes are secured.
• An effective communicator, both verbally and written. You can present clear, well-reasoned arguments that can be understood by a wide range of audiences.
• Experience in undertaking hydrogeological risk assessments.
• Experience in project management.

Additional information

To learn more about these roles from those already in them, gain insight into the recruitment process, and have the chance to ask your questions, join us for our candidate call on:

Wednesday 8th October 2025 at 15.10pm - 16.10pm

This will be held on Microsoft Teams and is open to all applicants. You do not need to have submitted an application to join the call, just click the apply button for further information.

This role must be undertaken from within the UK and does NOT qualify for sponsorship. Visit the Government website and search for visas and immigration to seek professional advice regarding options for obtaining the right to work in the UK.

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.

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 on our careers site for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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.

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. A reserve list will be held, and you may be offered other roles in other locations including temporary roles, which may be similarly aligned to this role.

Closing date for applications: 20th October 2025
Interview Dates: Week commencing 10th November and week commencing 17th November 2025