Environmental Crime Officer - 33193

Environmental Crime Officer - 33193
3
South East
Sevenoaks
DEFRA GRP EA TONBRIDGE OFFICE, TN11 9AS
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Environment & Sustainability
Full Time
£34,320

09/02/2026, 23:55 hours

ER04 Job Family Role Profile Environment & Regulation, Grade 4

Basic Check

We are seeking three highly motivated individuals to work as Environmental Crime Officers (ECOs) in our Area Enforcement Team.   

As an ECO, you will work to tackle a range of environmental crime, focusing primarily on high-risk illegal waste sites and serious and significant waste crime. Using a variety of enforcement and disruption tactics you will seek to identify and stop these criminal activities to protect the environment and safeguard legitimate industry. To do this, you'll attend reports of illegal activities, collect evidence, interview suspects and prepare casefiles and/or develop actions to disrupt the illegal operations across Kent, South London, East Sussex. You will proactively establish good working relationships with colleagues and partners.   

Regular pre-planned travel should be expected, and occasional overnight stays may be required. You will need to regularly attend offices to co-locate with your team, attend meetings, maintain the visibility across your area and develop investigations.  

Successful candidates will require National Security Vetting to SC (Security Check) level and must achieve Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) level 2 (full) clearance before starting in post.  

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. Please see the candidate pack for more on how you will support this. 

The Environment Agency is 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. It is our ambition to champion diversity through building a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve. 

Please note this role does NOT qualify for skilled worker sponsorship. Visit https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration where you can seek professional expert advice

You'll join a small and dedicated Area Enforcement Team working across Kent, South London and East Sussex within Local Operations.   
The team specialises in dealing with serious and significant complex environmental crime, principally investigating waste crime but also conducting investigations into other environmental offending when required.   
We work closely with our regulatory teams across the Area and with enforcement and intelligence colleagues in other Areas and Nationally. We also routinely work with external enforcement bodies

Your background will be in environmental regulation, intelligence-led enforcement or investigation – experience of working in collaboration with Partner Organisations such as the police, councils or other government agencies is highly relevant. You will have experience of using intelligence products to identify potential lines of enquiry & find disruption opportunities. 
 
Essential: 
A full UK driver's licence is required as the role involves travel.   

Desirable: 
Understanding and experience of working within an intelligence led environment, communicating with legal professionals, colleagues and partner enforcement agencies. 
 
The ideal candidate would have a good knowledge of the legislation which governs criminal investigations, such as the Environmental Permitting Regulations, the Environmental Protection Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. 

You’ll have a range of development opportunities and appropriate training will be provided. 

The role will be based at Medway House, Tonbridge; however our hybrid working model means we are lucky to have the flexibility to work from both the office and home, dependent primarily on business need, allowing for personal circumstances where we can. You could also work from other EA offices/depots. This role will be required to work out in the field on site visits. 

We offer a benefits package including flexible working, 25 days annual leave and an award-winning Pension Fund. See the candidate pack for more details. 

If you have any questions please do contact Neil Allison via neil.allison@environment-agency.gov.uk 

We anticipate holding face-to-face interviews in Tonbridge the week beginning 9 March 2026.

Achieves Results
Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses. You have up to 250 words so please do use them to tell us what we need to know about you. See Candidate pack for more details and a link to our capability dictionary.

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

Please provide an example of a piece of work you have led on, which involved working with others, where you overcame challenges to achieve an outcome.
Influences and Persuades Others
Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Please describe a time when you had to influence a colleague, customer or business to change their mind to get the outcome you wanted.
Manages Self
Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency.

Please describe a time when you took responsibility for addressing your own performance and developmental needs.
Are Licenses required for this post?  Driving Licence - Eligibility for lease cars is made based on the role. Internal candidates ensure you check the lease car policy and consider its impact before applying.
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

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 utilises 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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

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. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.