Job Description
We are seeking to fill 1 x Permanent and 1 x Fixed Term (18 - 24 months) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Senior Advisor role.
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect 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. In this role you will be welcomed into a highly inclusive team and given the training and support needed to help you thrive.
We are looking for an experienced leader to help shape, and drive delivery of the programme of work which will help to achieve our new People Strategy ambitions (see additional information document), including our aim to be best employer in the country for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
As a member of the EDI team within the People and Inclusion department, you will be expected to work flexibly to lend your skills to organisational priorities. You will work with others on a programme of EDI improvements to ensure that we attract, recruit, support and retain the diverse people we need to achieve the ambition in the Environment Agency’s five year plan, EA2025, and beyond. Your areas of responsibility may include portfolios such as oversight of EDI reporting, inclusive recruitment and retention initiatives, support of our diversity networks and strategic review of EDI delivery.
You will lead virtual teams and influence a broad range of stakeholders and will work as part of a collaborative three-way relationship procuring expertise from Defra Group Human Resources professionals and working with local and national Environment Agency teams, to both shape and implement an organisation-wide approach to deliver the People Strategy.
The team
The People & Inclusion department is an inclusive, diverse and passionate new team within the Strategy, Transformation and Assurance Directorate. Our vision is for the organisation to thrive and improve so we can create better places for people, wildlife and the environment. We work with colleagues across the organisation to ensure that priorities are informed by evidence and insight; people can be their best selves at work; and frontline delivery is efficient, equitable and sustainable.
Experience/skills Required
We’re looking for a highly resilient, experienced, inclusive and inspirational leader of people and work programmes.
You'll have good knowledge and experience of working on people-related initiatives, particularly related to EDI. You'll lead with professionalism, integrity, compassion and a commitment to form high-performing teams based on a foundation of psychological safety.
You can demonstrate:
- Interpersonal skills and building effective relationships with diverse internal and external partners and stakeholders
- Leading teams to work collaboratively on delivering programmes of work to address multiple priorities, with tight timescales and budgets
- Seeing issues from multiple perspectives, gaining consensus to achieve outcomes and leading through conflict, ambiguity and complexity
- Flexibility, resilience and determination to meet changing demands, and thriving in high-pressure roles
- Ability to self-start with good judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Delivering tangible improvements in EDI
- Experience of working alongside and influencing varied audiences, including senior leaders
Contact and additional information
We're fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We're striving to make our workforce as diverse as the communities we serve, and hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
Location - any EA office/ hybrid home-office working. Some travel expected. May require line-management responsibilities.
Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties. Further information can be found within your candidate pack.
Virtual interviews WC 16th December. We're keen for the successful candidate to start as soon as possible.
This vacancy is for a permanent and fixed-term position. Preferences will be confirmed at interview stage.
For any queries about the role, please contact edi.mailbox@environment-agency.gov.uk
Competence 1
Diversity
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Works successfully with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and ensuring that work is managed so that everyone is able to deliver their best. Actively encourages others to consider diversity issues in their work.
Please see the candidate pack for a link to our capability dictionary for more information.
Question: We aim to become the best employer for equality, diversity and inclusion in the country. Please describe an example of a time when you've constructively challenged inappropriate behaviour, performance or service delivery outcome that fell short of expectations related to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
You may want to consider the following in your answer:
- How did you define and communicate your expectations around EDI?
- What happened, what did you do, and what was the outcome?
- What did you learn?
You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response (see https://environmentagencycareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/). Other approaches are available that may be better suited to your way of working, please use whatever reflects you best.
Competence 2
Manages the Business
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Understands the Environment Agency’s business processes and how to maximise the use of resources in an efficient and effective way.
Please see the candidate pack for a link to our capability dictionary for more information.
Question: Drawing on your experience of delivering projects or pieces of work, please describe an example of a time when you had to deliver results in the face of resource constraints (in terms of time, money, and organisational will). How did you deliver results successfully in the face of considerable challenges or obstacles?
You may want to consider the following in your answer:
- Describe the project or piece of work.
- What were the outcomes you were trying to achieve?
- What were the obstacles and how did you overcome them?
- How did you decide what to do and what was the outcome?
- What did you learn?
You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response (see https://environmentagencycareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/). Other approaches are available that may be better suited to your way of working, please use whatever reflects you best.
Competence 3
Influences and Persuades Others
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.
Please see the candidate pack for a link to our capability dictionary for more information.
Question: Please provide an example of when you have drawn on multiple perspectives and influenced people to agree a way forward which achieved a successful outcome.
You may want to consider the following in your answer:
- What was the situation?
- How did you accommodate different perspectives?
- How did you influence individuals to agree on the shared outcome?
- How did you take people with you?
- What did you learn from this experience?
You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response (see https://environmentagencycareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/). Other approaches are available that may be better suited to your way of working, please use whatever reflects you best.
Competence 4
Delivers Results Through Others
Description
PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection - please draw out your skills and experience in your response.
Description: Harnesses the team to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures
Please see the candidate pack for a link to our capability dictionary for more information.
Question: Our Race Action Plan and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy describe our ambition to become an organisation that represents modern Britain and all the communities we serve; to employ people from ethnically diverse backgrounds at all levels and across all parts of our business; and to ensure all our people feel included, fairly treated and recognised for the contribution they make to a diverse EA. In this role you will translate these strategic ambitions into team work plans, personal objectives and tangible results.
Please give an example of how you've independently led a team to achieve a specified outcome where a significant challenge or obstacle presented itself.
You may want to consider the following in your answer:
- What outcome(s) were you aiming for?
- How did you inspire and focus the team to deliver results on time and to required standards?
- How did you monitor progress and resolve any challenges or difficulties?
- What would you do differently to continuously improve your approach?
You may find it helpful to research the STAR approach when formulating your response (see https://environmentagencycareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/). Other approaches are available that may be better suited to your way of working, please use whatever reflects you best.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
