Senior Environmental Crime Officer

Senior Environmental Crime Officer
£41,617 (+£2,117 Weighting Allowance for London Abbey Wood
location)
London SE2 (Abbey Wood), Farnham, Reading, Wallingford, Welwyn Garden City
Staff Grade: 5

Are you ready to take on a leadership role in tackling complex environmental challenges? As a
Senior Environmental Crime Officer in our new water industry enforcement team, you’ll provide
expert guidance and take the lead on enforcing environmental regulations to address serious
performance issues in the water industry.

In this senior role, you’ll lead and support your colleagues in constructing case files and
managing complex investigations into non-compliance within the water industry. You’ll be a
driving force in improving team performance by embracing constructive feedback and promoting
continuous improvement. Your commitment to inclusivity and collaboration will be essential in
sharing innovative practices and fostering a supportive team environment.

Senior Environmental Crime Officers support governance principles by encouraging
intelligence-led, outcome-focused, and well-managed investigations. You will provide technical
leadership in the following areas:

• Investigation policy and management: owning complex cases and supporting team members in
  progressing their cases including ensuring correct investigation techniques are employed in the
  field, reviewing investigation plans, identifying next steps, and resolving queries.
• Ensuring investigations are focused, meet required standards, progress efficiently, and are
  deliverable within agreed resources.
• Coaching and mentoring team members, inspiring through your dedication, enthusiasm, and
  accountability for their success.
• Supporting training and development to empower officers to grow professionally.
• Advising team leaders on resource management and allocation to ensure the effective
  delivery of outcomes.

This role is an opportunity to lead on the future of enforcement in the water industry.

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 alternative working arrangements will be available to support you with your
incident role.

We will provide comprehensive training and ensure you have the tools, equipment, and protective
clothing needed to carry out your duties safely and effectively.

There may be occasional overnight stays required, for example, to attend training courses.

The team 

The water industry enforcement team is dedicated to addressing serious and complex performance
issues within the water industry, driving improvements in compliance and environmental
standards. Based in our South East enforcement hub, one of four across England, your team will
work closely with one or more water companies to achieve these goals. You will mostly be office
based with occasional travel to deliver work on investigations and enforcement across your hub.

The team brings specialist enforcement expertise to:

• Reduce environmental offences.
• Effectively tackle complex and serious offences.
• Manage intelligence at the local level.
• Provide expert enforcement advice and support to staff and managers.
• Enhance prevention, intelligence, and enforcement capabilities.

What do I need?

In this role, you’ll bring strong decision-making skills as well as resilience, flexibility,
and professionalism when handling challenging situations or individuals.

Essential

• The role will require travel from time to time and so a full UK driving licence is
  required. (Please note, if you are invited to interview, we will contact you to conduct a DVLA
  driving licence check. More information on this process will be provided to you should you
  reach this stage of the recruitment process).
• Practitioner level investigatory skills and delivery of at least one or more
  significant/serious/complex enforcement case file(s).
• Experience of coaching, mentoring and leading others.
• Working experience of relevant legislation, for example the Environmental Permitting
  Regulations, the Environment Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedures
  and Investigations Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Desirable

• Experience of the water industry and powers to intervene.
• Ability to conduct advance witness and suspect interviews.
• Understanding and experience of working within an intelligence led environment.
• Experience of communication with legal professionals, colleagues and partner enforcement
  Agencies.

What’s in it for you: 

You’ll benefit from a culture that embraces difference and is inclusive where you’ll feel
supported and trusted to do the right thing. We’ll invest in you and allow you to grow and
shape your career. What’s more, you’ll have access to our great benefits package including: 

• A salary of £41,617 (+£2,117 Weighting Allowance for London Abbey Wood location).
• A generous pension scheme.
• Overtime opportunities through standby and incident pay.
• 27 days holiday + 8 bank holidays for full-time employees.
• Two days each year to spend taking part in activities that enhance the environment, engage
  with communities, or educate people about the environment.
• Great career opportunities.
• Maternity, paternity, and adoption leave scheme.

Options for flexible and / or part-time working will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve. To achieve this, we welcome
applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion.

To learn more about these roles from those already in them, gain insight into the recruitment
process, and have the chance to ask your questions, join us for our candidate call on:

• Tuesday 11th March at 12pm

This will be held on Microsoft Teams and is open to all applicants. You do not need to have
submitted an application to join the call, just click the apply button for further information.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part
of the UK’s largest environmental organisation. Join us, and together, let’s tackle the
challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable future. Apply now and embark on a
rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency.

Closing date for applications is Monday 17th March
2025.

Interview Dates: w/c 31st March
& 7th April.

Please note that a reserve list will be held, and you may be offered other roles, including
temporary roles, in locations that are similarly aligned to this role.