Environment Agency, Deputy Director, Navigation Strategy and Services

This post is an Environment Agency post at EA Grade Deputy Director and at EA salary £81,000. It is not a post at Civil Service Pay Band 1 as indicated on the left -hand side bar of this advert. Further confirmation of the EA grade and terms and conditions can be found in the attached candidate pack

This is a vacancy working for the Environment Agency, part of Defra Group. EA are not Civil Servants so terms will reflect that. Anyone moving from the Civil Service will lose their CS terms and benefits starting new employment with the EA

We are looking for an inspiring individual to join us as Deputy Director, Navigation Strategy and Services, to lead the dedicated, values-driven teams shaping and delivering our national navigation services.

The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for more than 1,000km of inland waterways across the non-tidal Thames, Medway, Anglian Waterways, and Rye and Lydney harbours. We support safe, responsible use of our waterways for boating, business and other recreational activities.

As Deputy Director, you will play a vital role in achieving our vision for thriving waterways that will be valued for generations to come. You will help to shape future services and empower teams to deliver our new five-year navigation strategy, which is currently out for consultation: https://engageenvironmentagency‌‌.uk.‌engagementhq.com/42576/widgets/157135/documents/110358

You will:

• Lead the implementation of our new strategy for navigation: You will set the direction for a modern, sustainable and financially resilient National Navigation Service and oversee transformation projects to ensure strategic commitments are translated into operational delivery.
• Drive sustainable funding initiatives: Your commercial awareness, financial acumen and strategic thinking will enable you to seize future funding opportunities to ensure the long-term resilience of our assets and services.
• Drive innovation and improvement: You will identify and enable opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation to ensure we provide a high performing navigation service which delivers our statutory duties and customer expectations.
• Engage with a variety of national stakeholders: Your ability to operate politically and communicate clearly will be key to managing relationships with national stakeholder groups, business forums and government.
• Embed a culture of inclusion: Your ability to role model and inspire an inclusive culture and consistent standards and ways of working will be an integral part of the role.

Please see our candidate pack and job profile for more information

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Application Closing Date 23:55 Sunday 27 September 2026

Candidates will have the opportunity to find out more about the role as there will be a virtual briefing session on 22 September 2026 at 3.00pm. Invitations can be acquired by emailing: DirectorofOperationsNationalNavigationService@environment-agency.gov.uk

Please note that this not part of the formal assessment process; it is intended to give candidates the opportunity to learn more about the appointment and the Environment Agency.

If shortlisted, you will be invited to take part in an assessment day in Reading on 20, 21 or 22 October 2026.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.