SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL CRIME OFFICER

Salary: £41,617
Location: Nottingham
Grade: G5
Post Type: Permanent, Full-time (part-time to be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Advert close: Monday 29th September
Interviews to be held: w/c Monday 20th October, w/c Monday 27th October

ABOUT US

Are you ready to take on a role that makes a real difference? Join the Environment Agency’s new water industry regulation teams and help lead the fight against growing and increasingly complex environmental crime.
We continue to change the way we regulate water companies. Our regulation teams work to hold underperforming operators to account and ensure compliance with environmental law. While we recognise their crucial role in managing the water cycle - collecting, treating and returning water to the environment - it’s essential they do so without causing environmental harm.
Our work includes preventing pollution, the regulation of sewage treatment works, storm overflows and ensuring compliance across the sewerage network. With increased scrutiny of sewage pollution and its effects, we’re more determined than ever to raise standards, strengthen regulation and protect the environment. We’re driving improved performance, accountability, and better use of our resources to create lasting environmental outcomes.
We’re recruiting now because the work is urgent and growing - this is a pivotal moment to join the Environment Agency, as we’re actively involved in shaping the future of water regulation in England.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

We’re looking for an experienced and driven individual with a strong background in environmental crime enforcement and investigation. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate:

• Proven, practitioner-level experience in conducting multiple investigations and preparing high-quality case files for significant or serious offences.
• An understanding of the water industry, including our regulatory powers and how they can be applied effectively.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and water management law.
• Experience working within an intelligence-led environment, with the ability to use intelligence to inform and shape enforcement activity.
• A proactive and creative approach to disrupting offenders and applying sustained pressure to bring about compliance.
• Strong partnership working skills, with experience collaborating with legal professionals, internal teams and external enforcement bodies.
• The ability to lead by example - inspiring and motivating others through personal accountability, enthusiasm and a commitment to high standards.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to apply business processes efficiently and make best use of available resources.

A full UK driving licence is essential, as the role may involve travel across a wide geographic area.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

As a Senior Environmental Crime Officer, you’ll play a vital role in tackling serious non-compliance within the water industry. Working within a small, dedicated enforcement team, your duties will include:

• Taking the lead on complex investigations, targeting illegal activities and using your knowledge of the water industry to ensure investigations are focused, conducted to the required standard and delivered at pace.
• Gathering intelligence, disrupting offenders and using a full range of enforcement tools to bring activities into compliance, or stop them altogether.
• Constructing and supporting robust case files, often working in partnership with legal teams and other enforcement bodies.
• Alongside investigation work, you’ll also focus on crime prevention, drawing on your expertise of the industry to identify patterns, anticipate risks and disrupt criminal operations before they escalate.
• Collaboration will be key. You’ll work closely with internal regulatory teams, national enforcement and intelligence colleagues and a range of external partners including the police and local authorities. Your leadership within the team will help improve performance, support continuous improvement and encourage the sharing of best practice.
• Acting as an advisor to your Team Leader, helping to manage and allocate resources to ensure an efficient and effective approach to your wider team’s work.

You’ll be recruited into a specific area with a designated office base, but flexibility is important - you may be required to work with teams in other locations or adapt to changing priorities across different areas.

We’re looking for an experienced and driven individual with a strong background in environmental crime enforcement and investigation. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate:

• Proven, practitioner-level experience in conducting multiple investigations and preparing high-quality case files for significant or serious offences.
• An understanding of the water industry, including our regulatory powers and how they can be applied effectively.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and water management law.
• Experience working within an intelligence-led environment, with the ability to use intelligence to inform and shape enforcement activity.
• A proactive and creative approach to disrupting offenders and applying sustained pressure to bring about compliance.
• Strong partnership working skills, with experience collaborating with legal professionals, internal teams and external enforcement bodies.
• The ability to lead by example - inspiring and motivating others through personal accountability, enthusiasm and a commitment to high standards.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to apply business processes efficiently and make best use of available resources