Operational Unit Manager

1

South West

Blandford Forum , Bridgwater , Exeter

Manley House, Rivers House Blandford, Rivers House Bridgwater

Staff Grade 6

Permanent

Full Time

Business Management & Improvement, Operational Delivery

£47,646

Are you passionate about mitigating environmental risk to protect people and wildlife?

Do you want to be directly involved in delivering highly sustainable flood prevention?

Then NEAS is looking for you!

We are looking for an Operational Unit Manager to join our Southwest National Environmental Assessment and Sustainability team (NEAS).

NEAS oversee the effective identification and management of environmental risk on our Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) projects and help identify and deliver environmental enhancements that leave a better place. You’ll be involved in ground-breaking and award-winning work, leaving a legacy for the future through effective collaboration across internal departments, the wider Defra group, statutory bodies, our Supply Partners, businesses and communities.

You will be the lead for NEAS within the Southwest Integrated Delivery Team, which is made up of Wessex and Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
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. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

You will oversee the management of the NEAS Southwest Hub, which primarily supports programme and project management in the Southwest Integrated Delivery Team (IDT). You will have direct line management of a Team Leader and 2 Principal Environmental Project Managers.

You will be accountable for the team of about 15 permanent staff and bought-in service from our suppliers. The team are based in several locations across the Southwest

Required experience:

• Strong communication and engagement skills adaptable to a wide variety of audiences and styles.
• Experience of having led dispersed teams.
• Experience of leading teams through change and transformation.
• The ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners.
• Adept at supporting and developing people and teams.
• Confidence in networking and influencing at all levels through the organisation.
• Skilled at creating, and delivering through, partnerships and collaborative environments.

Benefits include generous pension provision and leave entitlement. Our flexible working practices support a healthy work/life balance and offer numerous choices to help accommodate the demands that various personal commitments may present. Excellent training and learning opportunities are available for those wanting to progress their career, including personal and professional development. Please see the candidate pack for more information around benefits offered.

When providing evidence for competencies within your application, please give examples of how you clearly demonstrate these either within the context of this role or as transferable skills.

For further information please contact: jessie.curnow@environment-agency.gov.uk
CVs or other documents attached to your application will not be assessed for selection.
Interviews are anticipated to take place in the week commencing: 18/04/2026