Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join a front-line operational area team in the fight to tackle environmental crime. In this Environmental Crime Officer (ECO) role, you will focus on investigating and disrupting waste crime using the 4P approach but will also support colleagues in taking enforcement action in response to other environmental offences. This is an interesting and varied role and you will be working with others, gathering intelligence and evidence and preparing case files for court. You may be working with an operator of an illegal waste site, bringing them into compliance one day, and disrupting an Organised Crime Group operating in the waste sector the next day. You will be involved in challenging conversations with sometimes confrontational individuals, requiring you to adapt your communication style. Waste crime is borderless, so those in our operational roles need to be agile.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and disrupt waste crime using the 4P approach, and support colleagues in taking enforcement action in response to other environmental offences.
• Work with subject matter specialists and partner agencies to achieve objectives.
• Gather intelligence and evidence and prepare case files for court.
• Engage with operators of illegal waste sites to achieve compliance and, at other times, disrupt Organised Crime Groups in the waste sector.
• Engage in challenging conversations with sometimes confrontational individuals and adapt communication style; work in a borderless environment requiring agility.

Regular pre-planned travel should be expected and occasional overnight stays may be required. You will need to regularly attend offices to co-locate with your team, attend meetings, maintain visibility across your area and develop investigations.

Experience/skills Required

• Your background will be in environmental regulation, intelligence-led enforcement or investigation – experience of working in collaboration with partner organisations such as the police, councils or other government agencies is highly relevant.
• Experience of using intelligence products to identify potential lines of enquiry and find disruption opportunities.
• A full UK driver’s license is required. The role is dependent on obtaining Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2 (NPPV2).

Desirable

• Understanding and experience of working within an intelligence-led environment, communicating with legal professionals, colleagues and partner enforcement agencies.
• Knowledge of legislation governing criminal investigations (e.g., Environmental Permitting Regulations, Environmental Protection Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act).

Contact and additional information

This is a hybrid role. You will be required to work in the field, from a contractual Environment Agency base office (and others) as well as from home. All new starters will undergo training and participate in incident response duties when required. Further information on incident response can be found in the candidate pack.

Face-to-face interviews are likely to be held in the week beginning 6 October 2025. We do not assess CVs; your answers to the competency questions will be used for interview selection. Interested candidates can learn more about the role by contacting thameswastecrime@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competences

• Influences and Persuades Others – Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail. Example questions may be asked during the interview.
• Illegal Activity Detection and Enforcement – Uses intelligence to detect suspected illegal activities and carries out enforcement action where illegal activities have been detected. Example questions may be asked during the interview.
• Achieves Results – Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets, and prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results. Example questions may be asked during the interview.

Role-specific license requirements

• Full UK driving license

Note: If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. You may be eligible for continuous service for redundancy purposes depending on your previous service if you currently work in local government or other listed bodies. Please contact your HR Team if unsure of your status.

The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcomes flexible working patterns, including job sharing. We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, uses Central Government frameworks and contracts for recruitment. We are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. If you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts, please visit the Crown Commercial Service information page for details.