Environmental Officer
2 days ago
Stewartby
Environmental Officer Permanent | £30,000 – £35,000 + Car Allowance & Excellent Benefits An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Environment Team at the Water Management Alliance (WMA)— a group of Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) responsible for managing flood risk and land drainage across the region. The role is based in Stewartby, Bedfordshire and will primarily support the Upper Ouse Water Management Board (a WMA Member IDB). Some travel may be required across the wider WMA catchments (predominantly to Norfolk, Suffolk and South Lincolnshire) including to the WMA’s Head Office in King’s Lynn. Salary & Benefits • £30,000 – £35,000 (dependent on experience), • Car allowance, • Local Government Pension Scheme About the Role As an Environmental Officer, you’ll play a key role in ensuring that WMA’s activities protect and enhance the natural environment, specifically focusing on the Upper Ouse Water Management Board in Bedfordshire. Working closely with Operational and Technical (Catchment) Services, you will work with the WMA’s Environmental Manager to provide ecological advice to support the daily activities of the Boards such as watercourse maintenance and water level management activities. You will also lead on projects identified within the Board’s Biodiversity Action Plan. The role focuses primarily on proactive engagement with the operations teams, both prior to and during delivery watercourse maintenance and small to medium-scale watercourse improvement projects, including: • Culvert replacements, • Watercourse restorations, • Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes You will ensure works and projects: • Prevent environmental harm, • Minimise ecological disturbance, • At least two years’ relevant experience in an ecological or environmental role, • Experience undertaking a range of ecological surveys and assessments, such as:, • Habitat and species surveys, • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), • Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments, • Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs) Experience working with or alongside public authorities, infrastructure projects, or water management schemes would be advantageous. Further Information A detailed job pack, including the full job description and person specification, is available at: How to Apply To apply please submit your CV and covering letter explaining why you are a suitable candidate to . The closing date for receipt of applications is noon on 31 May 2026. For an informal discussion about the WMA and this position please contact Caroline Laburn (Environmental Manager) on 01553 819600. We look forward to receiving your application. Job Description Context The Water Management Alliance is a group of like-minded Internal Drainage Boards (“IDBs”) who share vision, values and standards, and have chosen to jointly administer their affairs in order to reduce costs, strengthen their own organisations and increase influence at both a national and regional level. The Upper Ouse Water Management Board is a newly constituted IDB (order made January 2026, effective April 2026) further to the amalgamation of three pre-existing Boards who have worked together since 2001 from their shared base in Stewartby, Bedfordshire. Further to several successful years of partnership working, the Board is in the process of joining the Water Management Alliance (WMA) in 2026. Internal Drainage Boards (“IDBs”) are local public authorities that manage flood risk and land drainage within areas of special drainage need in England. Each IDB has permissive powers to undertake water management activities within their Internal Drainage District. The purpose of delivering this work is to reduce flood risk to people and property and to manage water in a way that meets the local needs of business and agriculture, including during times of drought, whilst also dealing with its obligations and commitments to the environment. IDBs exercise a general power of supervision over all matters relating to water level management within their district whilst conducting their work in accordance with a number of general environmental duties and promoting the ecological wellbeing of their districts. The Environment Team within the Water Management Alliance works alongside the Operational and Technical (Catchment) Services meet the team’s key purpose of providing ecological advice to ensure that the Board’s core functions, such as project development/delivery, watercourse maintenance and third party regulation, do not cause environmental harm while seeking to enhance biodiversity where possible. Furthermore, the team ensures compliance with legislation and monitors and evaluates environmental commitments via the ISO 14001 Quality Management System. Role Description The post holder will advise operational teams to ensure standard IDB operations such as routine watercourse maintenance do not cause environmental harm, and furthermore will enhance biodiversity wherever possible. The post holder will also provide environmental advice to facilitate the delivery of small-mid sized capital schemes or partnership projects such as watercourse and/ or habitat restoration schemes, NFM, culvert replacements or other schemes undertaken on behalf of other flood risk management authorities. Daily tasks include the following: · Undertaking a variety of ecological surveys and assessments including but not limited to habitat / species surveys, Environmental Impact Assessments, Water Framework Directive Assessments and Habitat Regulations Assessments. · Writing, critically assessing, reviewing or presenting a variety of reports quickly, clearly and concisely for a variety of stakeholders. · Attending sites to ensure compliance with the environmental procedures established in the Standard Maintenance Operations Policy (such as scoping and auditing of work) and to undertake specific surveys, such as species / ecological surveys, as required. · Assisting with tasks and projects identified within each IDB’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). · Ensuring Health and Safety is paramount at all times and that Health and Safety objectives are promoted and achieved. · Interpretation of relevant legislation to understand IDB obligations with regard to the environment, including application for licences or assents on behalf of the IDBs. · Consultation with internal stakeholders (engineers, technical support teams and operations teams) and analysis of existing data sources. · Liaison and negotiation with other external authorities such as the Environment Agency, Natural England, NGOs and local interest groups, aiming to build positive working relationships with a range of external stakeholders. · Providing advice to the Sustainable Development Team and Compliance Team to ensure the IDB’s environmental obligations are met when regulating third party works. · Responding to enquiries from the general public, attending meetings and undertaking routine correspondence. · Investigating and reporting on environmental non-compliance. · Maintaining an ecological records system and report findings to the Local Biodiversity Records Centre. · Application and adherence of all WMA / Board policies. · Assisting with monitoring compliance with the ISO 14001:2015 environmental quality standard across the WMA. · Keeping knowledge current, by way of continuous professional development. · Maintaining filing and administrative systems, as required. · Willingness to travel and stay overnight on occasion, dependent on which Board requires service at the time. · Deputising for other team members when required to do so. · Any other duties that may reasonably be required. Person Specification Qualifications Essential · A relevant degree in an ecological or environmental subject OR significant relevant industry experience. · Eligible to apply for full membership with a professional accreditation body, most likely CIEEM. · Full membership with a professional accreditation body, most likely CIEEM. Desirable · Licence holder for 1 or more protected species (eg, Bat, GCN, Watervole etc.) · A CSCS card for site and construction work. · Associate membership with a professional accreditation body, most likely CIEEM. Experience Essential · A minimum of two years relevant work experience working in an ecological role. · Experience of undertaking Protected Species Surveys (Water voles, reptiles, bats, badgers). · Experience of producing Habitats Regulation Assessments and Water Framework Directive Assessments. · Experience working under protected species licences, notably Water Vole and Badger licences. Desirable · Experience of being Ecological Clerk of Works (ECOW) · Experience working with land drainage engineering techniques and water management. Skills/Knowledge Essential · A full and valid driving licence. · A knowledge of a wide range of environmental legislation. · The ability to interpret and apply technical information (e.g. technical plans for proposed projects). · Ability to prioritise effectively and organise workloads to meet deadlines · Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate complex material, as well as having a methodical approach to work, demonstrating an attention to detail as well as accuracy in record keeping. · Ability to competently use computer software such as Microsoft packages. · Well-developed written and spoken communication skills (including letter writing, presentation skills and interpersonal communication). · Ability to work well with others at all levels both internally and externally. · Ability to work independently · Be resilient and persuasive, with the ability to deal with challenges and questions confidently. · Creative problem solving skills with an ability to identify areas for development and improvement. Desirable · An understanding of GIS software. · Understanding of ISO 14001: 2015 and ISO 9001:2015.