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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.

Experience and skills

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.

The ideal candidate would have a 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.

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

• Competence 1 Influences and Persuades Others
  Description: 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. Q: Please provide an example of a time you have influenced someone to change their approach to achieve the goals of your project or investigation.
• Competence 2 Illegal Activity Detection and Enforcement
  Description: Uses intelligence to detect suspected illegal activities. Instigates and carries out enforcement action where illegal activities have been detected. Q: Please tell us about a role in an investigation that you are particularly proud of.
• Competence 3 Achieves Results
  Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results. Q: Please provide an example of a piece of work you have led on, which involved working with others, where you overcame challenges to achieve an outcome.

Role-specific license requirements

Full UK driving license

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 listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

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. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Senority level: Associate • Employment type: Full-time • Job function: Management and Manufacturing