Overview

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity, we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all of the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.

The Environment Agency are looking for an experienced investigator to join our National Investigations Team as a Senior Environmental Crime Officer. We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with a strong investigative background, good communication skills and a sound working knowledge of all aspects of running a major investigation. Experience of working alongside Partnership Organisations and of leading, driving and developing both investigative teams and complex investigations would also be desirable.

You will work alongside our Senior Investigation Managers and our Major Incident Room in leading investigations into the most serious and complex of environmental crimes. You will use your knowledge and experience to help drive these cases forward by coordinating and overseeing all aspects of the investigations, from identifying lines of enquiry, reviewing intelligence, raising and allocating actions, coordinating evidence gathering and interviews, through to casefile preparation and, ultimately, successful prosecution.

Our investigations can be complex and varied in nature, often involving Organised Crime Groups, illegal waste exports and large scale fraud. This role provides an exciting opportunity for anyone with relevant investigative experience to take their skills and knowledge into the arena of serious environmental crime.

The Team

This role sits within the National Environmental Crime Unit, part of our National Regulation and Monitoring Team. The National Investigations Team are a nationally dispersed team of Investigators working to bring the most serious and significant environmental offenders to justice. Your skills and experience will help lead, coordinate and progress our investigations, along with working to develop the team as a whole. Please see our Additional Information Pack for further details.

Experience/skills Required

• You should have a high level of attention to detail, be hardworking and self-motivated with a strong investigative background.
• You’ll have in depth knowledge of investigative legislation such as PACE and CPIA, excellent verbal and written skills and basic IT competency (Microsoft Word, Excel and Teams).
• Knowledge of environmental crime, leading on serious criminal investigations and the workings of a Major Incident Room would also be desirable.
• A background of being driven, self-motivated, using your initiative to find solutions and building and developing investigation teams would be greatly beneficial.
• Successful completion of both SC and NPPV2 Vetting processes is required for this role and this will need to be obtained within your 6 month probationary period.
• A full driving licence is also required.

Role requirements and additional information

• This is a hybrid working role and you will work flexibly both from home and your nearest Environment Agency Office. There will be a requirement for frequent travel for meetings and operational duties. Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. 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 and full training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.
• Please contact elspeth.allum@environment-agency.gov.uk for further information.

Competencies

• Achieves Results – Please provide an example where you have led on a complex or protracted criminal investigation. How did you manage and coordinate the investigation to deliver a successful outcome?
• Takes Decisions and Solves Problems – Please provide an example where you have led on an investigation which involved having to make difficult decisions and/or find alternative solutions to overcome unforeseen problems. What were the challenges? How did you address these and how did you deal with any barriers you encountered?
• Focuses on Efficiency, Innovation and Quality – Please provide an example where you have implemented a new technique or way of working that has improved efficiency across your team or wider Organisation. What drove the change and what were the benefits / challenges?

Role-specific license requirements

• Full Driving Licence

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilizes Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit the Crown Commercial Service page for more information.