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, and this role focuses on managing intelligence professionally to ensure threat, risk and harm are appropriately assessed and managed. Environmental crime is a strategic priority with high-profile attention from public, media, national and international stakeholders. This role supports investigations and helps prioritise and drive interventions to remove unlawful operators from waste regimes. You will proactively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and deliver actionable intelligence products for customers.

We are committed to an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. Please include any information about your preferred working arrangements in your application.

Responding to incidents is a central part of our work. The role requires an incident duty and availability to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. An additional payment and full training, with alternative working arrangements, may be provided to support this role.

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

Responsibilities

• Support investigations and help prioritise and drive interventions to remove unlawful operators from waste regimes.
• Proactively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making.
• Produce actionable intelligence products for customers and colleagues.
• Respond to incidents as part of an incident role and provide business continuity support where required.

Experience and Skills

• Ability to collect and evaluate data and information from a wide variety of sources to inform intelligence products; experience interrogating IT systems and databases is essential.
• 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 accurately.
• Good team-working skills and an inclusive approach to colleagues and customers.
• Ability to flex between tasks and juggle administrative activities to support colleagues and customers.

Additional Information

• Security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) will be required.
• Dispersed team working; a mix of home and office working is supported, with travel to Birmingham and Sheffield offices as needed.
• Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who meet the minimum criteria.
• Environment Agency supports flexible working patterns; please include preferred working arrangements on your application.
• For informal discussion, contact vacancy managers via the addresses provided in the job posting.
• We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from under-represented groups.