Overview

We are seeking an Intelligence Research Officer to join the National Environmental Crime Unit (NECU) within the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency aims to be an intelligence-led organisation and this role focuses on managing intelligence professionally to assess and manage threat, risk and harm. 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 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 reflecting the communities we serve and 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 make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment, with full training and alternative working arrangements available to support you in 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 conducted via Microsoft Teams and are expected in September 2025. We welcome applications from groups under-represented across our workforce. Note that security vetting checks (SC and NPPV3) will be required.

For an informal discussion please contact vacancy managers at the Environment Agency.

Team and Role Context

NECU supports the Environment Agency’s enforcement community, spanning 14 geographical areas and national services, tackling around 40,000 suspected and alleged offences each year. You will be part of our Intelligence & Partnerships department, working with intelligence professionals to provide intelligence products and assessments to support colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Pro-actively develop and access intelligence from a range of sources to inform decision making and provide actionable intelligence products for customers.
• Support investigations and help prioritise and drive forward interventions to remove unlawful operators from waste regimes.
• Respond to incidents as part of an incident role, with potential for additional pay and training.
• Contribute to business continuity planning and support during incidents.
• Work flexibly within the dispersed team and across geographical areas as required.

Experience / Skills Required

You’ll need to collect and evaluate data and information from a wide variety of sources to produce or inform intelligence products, and to prepare and deliver research summaries. This includes experience interrogating IT systems and databases, and a genuine enthusiasm and curiosity for finding information.

• Good communication skills with the ability to listen and communicate information effectively.
• Ability to represent the Environment Agency professionally with a variety of partners.
• Ability to use own initiative and adapt approaches as needed.
• Skills in using standard IT packages; ability to retrieve information accurately.
• Good team working skills with an inclusive approach to colleagues and customers.
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and administrative activities to support colleagues and customers.

Competencies

Competence 1 – Achieves Results
Describe a time when you alternated between several activities in a short space of time and how you ensured delivery of all tasks.

Competence 2 – Data and Information Management
Describe a time when you gathered detailed information from multiple sources to inform a decision and how you approached it.

Competence 3 – Builds and Sustains Relationships
Describe a time when you established a rapport with an important customer or partner and how you developed the relationship.

Notes We are not part of HM Civil Service; eligibility for continuous service may differ. See the original text for detailed policy notes on civil service status, redundancy, and guaranteed interview provisions.

Employment Details

• Seniority level: Associate
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

We’ve included links to additional opportunities and information about the Environment Agency’s work culture and recruitment approach where applicable.