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 and will also support colleagues in taking enforcement action in response to other environmental offences. You will work with subject matter specialists and partner agencies to achieve this. This is an interesting and varied role. 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 but will also support colleagues in taking enforcement action in response to other environmental offences.
• Work with subject matter specialists and partner agencies to achieve this. This is an interesting and varied role.
• 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.

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. You will have experience of using intelligence products to identify potential lines of enquiry & find disruption opportunities.

Essential

• A full UK drivers 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.
• Good knowledge of the legislation which governs criminal investigations, such as the Environmental Permitting Regulations, the Environmental Protection Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act and the 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 being able to work from home. 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 the candidate pack. Face to face interviews are likely to be held 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.

Competencies

• 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.
• Illegal Activity Detection and Enforcement — Uses intelligence to detect suspected illegal activities. Instigates and carries out enforcement action where illegal activities have been detected.
• Achieves Results — Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Role-specific license requirements

Full UK driving license

Additional information

We welcome flexible working patterns for all 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 a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses frameworks for recruitment. For supplier opportunities, visit the Crown Commercial Service page.

Location

Middlesbrough, Stockton-On-Tees, Darlington area teams across the country.