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 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 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 reflecting the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for our vacancies, including job share; please include any information about your preferred working arrangements on your application. Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do, and 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 additional payment and full training, with alternative working arrangements to support you with your incident role.

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

Responsibilities

• Pro-actively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making.
• Provide actionable intelligence products for customers and support investigations.
• Prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes.
• Support colleagues within the Intelligence & Partnerships department by producing intelligence products and assessments.
• Respond to incidents as required and support business continuity during incidents.

Experience/skills Required

• Experience in collecting and evaluating data from a wide variety of sources to produce or inform intelligence products; ability to interrogate IT systems and databases.
• An 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 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 team working skills and an inclusive approach to others.
• Ability to flex between tasks and manage multiple administrative activities to support colleagues and customers.

Additional information

• Dispersed team working is required; staff may work from home and office as part of a smarter working approach.
• Security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) are required.
• For an informal discussion, please contact the vacancy manager at Environment Agency.

Competencies

• Achieves Results – Tell us about a time you managed multiple activities in a short space of time and delivered as required.
• Data and Information Management – Tell us about gathering detailed information from various sources to inform a decision.
• Builds and Sustains Relationships – Tell us about establishing rapport with an important customer or partner.

Notes

The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and offers a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with a disability. The Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; if applicable, check your eligibility for continuous service with your HR Team. We operate within Central Government frameworks for recruitment.