Overview

We are seeking an Intelligence Research Officer to join National Environmental Crime Unit NECU in a dynamic part of the business. The Environment Agency’s ambition is to be an intelligence-led organisation and this role involves managing intelligence professionally and in line with current guidance to ensure threat, risk and harm are appropriately assessed and managed. Environmental crime is a strategic priority, attracting high profile attention from the public, media, national and international stakeholders. This role supports investigations and helps prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes. You will help deliver our response by pro-actively developing and accessing intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and provide actionable intelligence products for our customers. We are committed to an inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share; please include any information about preferred working arrangements on your application. Responding to incidents is a central part of our work. You will be required to have an incident role and be available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your incident role.

The team: NECU supports the Environment Agency’s enforcement community across 14 geographical areas and national services, tackling around 40,000 suspected and alleged offences each year. We regulate industry, ensure compliance, and eliminate illegal activities including Organised Crime Groups. You will be part of our Intelligence & Partnerships department, working with intelligence professionals to provide intelligence products and assessments to support colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Proactively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and provide actionable intelligence products for customers.
• Support investigations and prioritise interventions to remove unlawful operators from waste regimes.
• Collect and evaluate data and information from diverse sources to produce or inform intelligence products; prepare and deliver research summaries; interrogate IT systems and databases.
• Respond to incidents as required, providing business continuity support and incident response where applicable.

Experience / Skills Required

• Experience of collecting and evaluating data from a wide variety of sources to produce or inform intelligence products; ability to interrogate IT systems and databases; enthusiasm and curiosity for finding information.
• Good communication skills with the ability to listen to others and transmit information effectively.
• Ability to represent the Environment Agency professionally with partners; use own initiative and adapt approaches as needed.
• Skills in using standard IT packages; ability to retrieve information effectively and accurately.
• Good teamwork and an inclusive approach to colleagues and customers; ability to flex between tasks and manage administrative activities.

Additional Information

• Location is flexible with a mix of home and office working; travel to Birmingham and Sheffield offices may be required on occasions.
• Interviews via Microsoft Teams expected in September 2025.
• Security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) will be required.
• We welcome applications from diverse groups and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support disabled applicants meeting minimum criteria.
• Note: Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; eligibility for continuous service may vary. If unsure, contact your HR Team.

Seniority level

• Associate

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

For more information, contact the vacancy managers via the Environment Agency email addresses provided in the listing.