Overview

We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it, and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities, and our environment. As an organization we strive to reflect the communities we serve and continue to develop diversity throughout our workforce. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religion.

The delivery of farm inspections is a top priority for the Environment Agency (EA). We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with excellent communication skills to join our Agriculture Team. Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our precious water environment. As an Environment Officer - Agriculture, you will assess what is needed to stop pollution and damage to the environment by working with farmers to improve legal compliance. We are looking for dynamic individuals, ideally with experience and understanding of UK agriculture, to work with farmers to increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will help safeguard and improve the future environment.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out targeted farm inspections across a range of sectors; from permitted intensive farms to small family farms, land spreading operators, water abstractors and those with discharge consents
• Engaging with farmers and land managers to influence them to change their practice, which may involve difficult conversations
• Collecting and reporting on data and findings, paying close attention to detail
• Undertaking regulatory enforcement action and, when needed, the serving of notices and prosecutions
• Work collaboratively with other teams and specialists
• Required to attend incidents at short notice, both environmental and flooding, both in and out of hours

Our work is varied and interesting and no two days are the same.

Team and Location

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a front-line team where your actions and decisions make a real difference to the people and environment in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. As part of the wider Land and Water Team, the Agriculture Team helps to protect some of the most sensitive and well-used environments in Britain. We are frequently out and about in our predominantly rural patch and diverse agricultural sector. The successful candidate can be based at Lincoln, Kettering, Spalding or Peterborough. We support flexible working, so please include any preferences on your application. This role involves the need to travel (for inspections, incident response and to attend meetings), so a full driver’s licence is essential. Interviews will be held face-to-face in the week commencing 27 October 2025.

Experience and Skills Required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being tactful with customers. Experience of communicating with the farming community would be beneficial but not essential
• Self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changeable circumstances
• Ability to make timely and rational decisions based on relevant information and experience
• A desire to help protect and improve the environment. Knowledge of environmental issues, especially those associated with the agriculture sector, would be beneficial but not essential
• A desire and ability to learn
• Experience in a regulatory role would be beneficial
• Full UK driving licence
• Positive attitude, be confident in engaging with staff and members of the public (over the phone and in person), and be comfortable working both on your own and within a team

Contact and Additional Information

Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties when the need to respond arises. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack. The successful candidate should be based in Lincoln, Kettering, Spalding or Peterborough, with travel as part of the role. You may include any preferences on your application. We have flexible working patterns and a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability. We also have information regarding working arrangements and supplier frameworks as applicable.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; statements must be truthful and taken directly from your own experience. All content should reflect your own experience.