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. We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religion. The delivery of farm inspections is a top priority for the 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.

The team

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 friendly and supportive 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.

Experience/skills Required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being tactful with customers. Experience of communicating with the farming community would be particularly beneficial, but not essential.
• Self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changeable circumstances.
• An ability to make timely and rational decisions based on relevant information and experience.
• A desire to help protect and improve the environment. A 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 drivers’ licence.
• In addition to the above, the ideal candidates must have a 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 their 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, having an incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and is an active way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. Further information on incident response can be found within your candidate pack.

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 F2F week commencing 27 October 2025.

For any questions please contact: jo.gass@environment-agency.gov.uk

Contract and other requirements

Length of contract: Temporary – Maternity Backfill for 12 months.

Full UK driving licence required.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.

The Environment Agency is committed to providing value for money and uses Central Government frameworks for external recruitment. For more information, please visit the Crown Commercial Service supplier page.

Special note on AI

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism is identified, applications may be withdrawn.