Senior Environmental Crime Officer (Grade: G5)

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’s in it for you? 

You’ll be part of a supportive organisation that values difference and promotes inclusivity, as well as having the flexibility and trust to make a meaningful impact.  

We also offer:

• A salary of £41,617 per annum
• A generous pension scheme (currently 19% of pensionable pay) 
• 27 days annual leave, plus 8 bank holidays
• Standby and incident response payments
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Two paid environmental outcome days each year to volunteer in your community 
• Extensive training and career development
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave  

Part-time working will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  

Why choose us? 

Make a meaningful impact: At the Environment Agency, your work has a real and lasting effect on the quality of our environment. Regulating the water industry is a key priority. By promoting responsible water use and protecting vital ecosystems, your role helps preserve the natural world for future generations.

Dynamic and rewarding work: Join a proactive, passionate team tackling environmental challenges on a national scale. You’ll collaborate with like-minded professionals in a supportive and forward-thinking environment, where your input truly makes a difference.

Focus on results: Our work delivers real-world change. Whether it’s enforcing regulations or restoring damaged water environments, we take action that benefits both people and nature.

Continuous development: We’re committed to developing your skills and knowledge. With tailored training, mentoring and access to the latest tools and technologies, you’ll be supported in developing your skills and progressing your career in environmental regulation.
 
Values-driven organisation: Integrity, transparency, and environmental responsibility guide everything we do. You’ll be part of an organisation that’s genuinely committed to building a more sustainable and resilient future.

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.

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.

Interviews to be held:  w/c Monday 20^th October, w/c Monday 27^th October

Additional information 

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 joining a new role will receive a warm welcome and full support, including the equipment, training and guidance needed to thrive.  

You will be required to take on an incident role to help us respond effectively to incidents or support business continuity. These roles may attract additional pay, with full training and flexible working arrangements provided. We offer a range of incident roles and will work with you to find the best fit.  

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please note that providing false or misleading information at any stage of the application or recruitment process may result in withdrawal of your application, or where applicable, disciplinary action in line with internal processes

We will maintain a reserve list for 12 months and may offer similar roles at other locations linked to this position. 

To apply click here

  Please note: Candidates selected for interview will be notified by email at least five days in advance. Please check both your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you don’t miss our message.