Chief Operating Officer – Evidence & Water Resilience

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, playing a critical role in addressing the climate and nature crises. Guided by a clear statutory purpose, “to protect and improve the environment in ways that support health, wellbeing and sustainable economic growth”, SEPA is at the forefront of delivering a stronger, fairer and more resilient Scotland.  

Working collaboratively with communities, businesses, and government, SEPA harnesses science, data and innovation to inform decision-making and drive environmental improvement. Its strategic priorities (Net Zero, Climate Resilience, Water Environment, Resource Efficiency, Environmental Performance and organisational transformation) shape the agency’s ambition and impact.  

The Chief Operating Officer – Evidence & Water Resilience is a key member of SEPA’s Corporate Leadership Team (CLT), responsible for leading a critical portfolio at the heart of evidence-led environmental protection and policy. 

This role provides strategic leadership across a diverse and highly specialist set of functions, including environmental monitoring, scientific services, research, hydrology and flooding, ecology, and innovation. 

You will shape and deliver SEPA’s approach to data, evidence and insight, ensuring that high-quality science and intelligence underpin regulatory decisions, influence policy, and enable Scotland’s transition to a net zero and climate-resilient future. 

Operating at executive level, you will contribute corporately to the overall leadership and transformation of SEPA, driving organisational performance and acting as a visible ambassador for the agency. 

• Provide executive leadership for SEPA’s Evidence & Water Resilience portfolio, ensuring alignment to corporate strategy and statutory purpose 

• Work collaboratively with the Chief Executive and CLT to set direction, deliver strategic priorities, and drive the One SEPA modernisation  

• Lead the development and application of high-quality environmental data, science and evidence to inform decision-making, regulation, and policy influence 

• Champion innovation and continuous improvement, embedding new approaches, technologies and insights across the organisation 

• Inspire and lead multidisciplinary teams, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture focused on engagement, wellbeing and development.  

• Ensure effective performance management across the portfolio, including delivery against KPIs, resource planning, and continuous improvement 

• Oversee robust governance, risk management, and compliance across all areas of responsibility 

• Act as a senior ambassador for SEPA, building strong partnerships with stakeholders, government, academia and industry 

• Ensure effective stewardship of public resources, contributing to corporate financial planning and delivering value for money. 

Essential 

• A proven track record of strong positive people leadership within an organisation of at least comparable size, scope, scale. 

• Demonstrate experience in leading and implementing transformational change to support an organisation align its people to achieve its outcomes. 

• Demonstrate experience of effective resource and financial management. 

• Demonstrable experience in effective performance management and ensuring key targets are met. 

• Track record of effective partnership working involving multiple stakeholders. 

• A proven track record of working with a Board (or similar), ensuring effective engagement, information sharing and reporting to ensure sound governance. 

Qualifications 

• A degree in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience) 

• Formal management or leadership qualification 

• Membership of a relevant professional body 

Experience 

• Working as part of a senior management or executive team 

• Guiding and motivating people from multiple functions 

• Managing and improving organisational performance in a sustainable way 

• Building mutually beneficial relationships with external partners and stakeholders 

• Managing a significant budget and achieving best value for money 

• Managing a complex and diverse workload with many competing demands 

• Ensuring good governance and compliance with legislative requirements and organisational policy; managing risk and resilience proportionally and effectively 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: 

• Proven ability to think and act strategically and corporately, with a creative approach to problem solving. 

• Excellent positive leadership and motivational skills. 

• An understanding of the wider administrative, social, and economic context within which SEPA operates. 

• Ability to interpret and use complex, conflicting information in reaching sound decisions.