Director of Operations x 2 (South East/East and South/South West)

Environment Agency

South East and East | South and South West

  • Location South East and East | South and South West
  • Sector Central Government
  • Client Environment Agency
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £100,000–£136,780
  • Reference GSe129554
  • Closing Date 17:00 on Friday 6 March 2026

Lead operations. Shape the future of England’s environment.

The Environment Agency plays an important role in the resilience and prosperity of England. From climate resilience to clean land, air and water and enabling sustainable growth.

We are now seeking two exceptional Directors of Operations to lead large, complex operational hubs and help deliver our 2050 vision: an England where air, land and water systems are sustainable, resilient, and support thriving communities and nature.

Each Director will oversee between 1,200 and 2,200 people, significant budgets, and a vital national operational portfolio. You will set strategic direction, drive outstanding delivery, and ensure our people have the clarity, capability and leadership they need to deliver for the environment.

About the roles

As a Director of Operations, you will provide visible, purposeful leadership across your regional hub and national portfolio. Drive performance, transformation, productivity and innovation. Work with partners across national and local government, industry and communities. Lead incident and emergency response at a strategic level. Build a culture where people thrive and deliver exceptional outcomes, and ensure decisions are grounded in robust evidence, operational insight and sound judgement.

These are high-profile, outward-facing leadership positions requiring significant influencing skills and the ability to balance diverse stakeholder interests .

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an exceptional senior leader with experience in a large, complex operational environment, and a strong track record of turning strategy into delivery through transformation and innovation. Confident engaging with Ministers and senior stakeholders, the successful candidate will evidence outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the ability to combine resilience, sound judgement and the ability to navigate complexity at pace. Above all, we are seeking leaders who are committed to fostering a high-performing culture — and motivated public service.

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