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 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 provides an exciting opportunity to support investigations and help prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from the waste regimes. You will pro-actively develop and access 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 make yourself 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 available to support your incident role.

Responsibilities

• 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 interventions to remove unlawful operators from waste regimes.
• Respond to incidents as part of the incident role and provide business continuity support during incidents (may include additional payment and training).
• Collaborate with the Environment Agency’s enforcement community across 14 geographical areas and national services.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience 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 and transmit information effectively.
• Ability to represent the Environment Agency professionally with partners, use own initiative, and adapt approaches as needed.
• Proficiency with standard IT packages and ability to retrieve information accurately; strong teamwork and inclusive collaboration.
• Ability to juggle multiple administrative tasks and flex between activities to support colleagues and customers.

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 will be conducted via Microsoft Teams and are expected to be held in September 2025.
• Security vetting checks required: SC and NPPV3.
• We welcome applications from diverse groups and support flexible working; a guaranteed interview policy is available for applicants with disabilities whose applications meet minimum criteria.
• Note: Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; for those applying from civil service, local government, or listed bodies, consult your HR team for status implications.

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