Overview

We are seeking an Intelligence Research Officer to join the National Environmental Crime Unit (NECU) in a dynamic part of the business. The Environment Agency’s ambition is 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, national and international stakeholders. This role provides an exciting opportunity to support investigations and help prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes. You will help deliver our response by proactively 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 clearly include any information regarding 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 make yourself 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.

Any future recruitment will be taken from the reserve list.

Team

NECU supports the Environment Agency’s enforcement community, spread across 14 geographical areas and national services, tackling around 40,000 suspected and alleged offences each year. We help protect and improve the environment by regulating industry, ensuring compliance, and eliminating 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

• Collect and evaluate data and information from a wide variety of sources to produce or inform intelligence products.
• Prepare and deliver research summaries; interrogate IT systems and databases.
• Proactively develop intelligence from multiple sources to inform decision making.
• Provide actionable intelligence for internal customers and stakeholders.

Qualifications / Experience

• Experience of interrogating IT systems and databases; ability to collect and evaluate data from diverse sources.
• 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 a variety of partners.
• Ability to use standard IT packages; retrieve information effectively and accurately.
• Good teamwork and an inclusive approach; ability to flex between tasks and juggle administrative activities to support colleagues and customers.

Security / Vetting

Note that security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) will be required.

Location & Interviews

Location is flexible with a mix of home and office working; travel to Birmingham and Sheffield offices may be required on occasion. Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and are expected in September 2025.

Contact

For an informal discussion please contact the vacancy manager at pete.booth@environment-agency.gov.uk or sam.morrison@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Additional notes

We are committed to reflecting diverse communities and welcome applications from groups under-represented across our workforce. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.