Overview

We are seeking a Manager to lead our Economic Crime Unit (ECU), which is part of the National Environmental Crime Unit (NECU). The successful candidate will lead a specialist team dedicated to removing the financial benefit from criminals.

You will be the strategic lead for the way we manage financial investigations ensuring we are fulfilling our obligations under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). You’ll be proactive in your approach with a strong focus on continually improving and enhancing the way we work.

You’ll manage two Team Leaders, one responsible for our Asset Denial Team and one responsible for our Money Laundering Investigation Team. You will also manage a Senior Financial Intelligence Officer. You will provide strong leadership, motivating and developing your team and managing their performance and work delivery.

This role requires you to work collaboratively with internal teams such as the Investigatory Teams, Intelligence & Partnerships and Legal, as well as external partners such as the Police, National Crime Agency and HMRC. You’ll be expected to influence at a senior level ensuring the Environment Agency’s priorities are supported and recognised by other external enforcement agencies.

Alongside your role in the ECU, you will support the wider organisation in continually improving the way we work and increasing understanding of POCA legislation. You will share lessons learnt, input into changes to our technical documentation and provide advice to other enforcement officers across the country.

The team

The Economic Crime Unit is made up of two teams – the Asset Denial Team and the Money Laundering Investigations Team. These teams are made up of Financial Investigators, Financial Intelligence Officers and Crime Analysts. The Economic Crime Unit is a nationally dispersed team working with enforcement staff and partners across the country. The team deal with the most serious and complex criminality involving organised crime networks.

Experience/skills Required

• Exceptional leadership skills, ideally with experience in leading a dispersed team. You will have a good understanding of financial investigations and the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• Experience of working in the law enforcement sector and an understanding of the National Intelligence Model
• Communicating effectively including delivering feedback, managing performance and building relationships with external stakeholders
• Working under pressure and prioritising a varied workload
• Identifying areas for improvement and leading changes to working practices
• Developing and enhancing the capability of a team and the individuals within it

Contact and additional information

This is a hybrid working role and you’ll work flexibly from home and your nearest office. There will be a requirement for travel across the country for meetings and operational duties. Incident response is a central part of what we do. You\'ll 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. Training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you. Interviews will take place w/c 3rd November 2025. For further information, please contact: Emma Viner, Enforcement & Investigations Manager – emma.viner@environment-agency.gov.uk

Competences

• Leads People: Please provide an example of where you have had to lead and inspire your team to perform in the face of change to business priorities or ways of working
• Develops People: Please provide an example of a time you have dealt with a complex staff issue to improve the individual’s performance or the performance of the team
• Takes Decisions and Solves Problems: Please provide an example of a piece of work you have led on where you have had to overcome challenges to achieve an outcome utilising support from partner agencies

Important notices
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, you may be eligible for continuous service for calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status, please contact your HR Team. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns and job share. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment needs. For information on becoming a Crown supplier, visit GOV.UK.

AI notice Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; all examples and statements must be truthful and taken from your own experience. Plagiarism may lead to withdrawal of applications. The Environment Agency aligns with Civil Service guidance on AI use.