Overview

We are seeking an Intelligence Research Officer to join the National Environmental Crime Unit (NECU) in a dynamic part of the Environment Agency’s business. The Environment Agency aims to be an intelligence-led organisation, so managing intelligence professionally and in line with current guidance is essential to ensuring threat, risk and harm are appropriately assessed and managed. Environmental crime is a strategic priority, attracting high-profile attention from the public, media, and national and international stakeholders. This role provides an opportunity to support investigations and help prioritise and drive interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes. You will proactively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and provide actionable intelligence products for our customers.

We welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. Please include any information about your 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 to 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 your incident role.

Location is flexible with a mix of home and office working; travel to Birmingham and Sheffield offices may be required on occasions. Interviews will be via Microsoft Teams and are expected in September 2025. Security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) will be required.

The Environment Agency seeks to reflect diverse communities we serve and welcomes applications from groups under-represented across our workforce.

Experience/skills Required

You will need to collect and evaluate data and information from a wide variety of sources to produce or inform intelligence products and prepare and deliver research summaries. You must have experience interrogating IT systems and databases, and an enthusiasm and curiosity for finding information is essential.

• Good communication skills with the ability to listen to others and transmit information effectively
• Ability to represent the Environment Agency professionally with a variety of partners
• Ability to use own initiative and identify when a change in approach is needed
• Skills in using standard IT packages; ability to retrieve information effectively and accurately
• Good teamwork and an inclusive approach to colleagues
• Ability to flex between tasks and juggle administrative activities to support colleagues and customers

Responsibilities

Proactively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and provide actionable intelligence products. Support investigations and help prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes. Respond to incidents as required and provide business continuity support during incidents. Respond to dispersed team needs and collaborate with intelligence professionals across 14 geographical areas and national services to tackle suspected and alleged offences and to protect the environment.

Contact and additional information

Note: The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service. We may conduct flexible working and a guaranteed interview policy to support candidates with disabilities. For informal discussion please contact vacancy managers Pete Booth or Sam Morrison at environment-agency.gov.uk.

Competences

Competence 1: Achieves Results — Describe how you managed multiple activities to deliver results.

Competence 2: Data and Information Management — Describe how you gathered detailed information from various sources to inform a decision.

Competence 3: Builds and Sustains Relationships — Describe how you established rapport with a customer or partner.

Note: The Environment Agency’s recruitment information includes diversity and inclusion statements and details about flexible working arrangements, continuous service considerations, and a guaranteed interview policy for applicants with disabilities.