Regulatory Officer 1 - South East (Central East) - Combined Packaging Regime - 33056

Regulatory Officer 1 - South East (Central East) - Combined Packaging Regime - 33056
3
London
London
DEFRA GRP MARSHAM STREET, SW1P 4DF
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Operational Delivery
Full Time, Part Time, Other
£34,320

15/02/2026, 23:55 hours

ER04 Job Family Role Profile Environment & Regulation, Grade 4

Basic Check

As a Regulatory Officer, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the future of recycling in England and see the impact of your work every day. Working within our Combined Packaging Regime team in Waste Markets & Shipments (WM&S), you’ll help reduce waste, improve recycling standards, and support businesses to operate more sustainably. You’ll regulate producers who place packaging on the market, ensuring they meet their legal obligations and manage their packaging waste responsibly. 

In this role, you’ll plan, monitor, and deliver compliance and enforcement activities that contribute to a circular economy. The work involves a balance of fieldwork and desk-based tasks, so a full UK driving licence is essential. 

As a Regulatory Officer, you will: 

  • Work with businesses to bring them into compliance and investigate suspected noncompliance. 
  • Carry out audits both on-site and remotely. 
  • Build effective relationships with businesses and stakeholders. 
  • Solve technical challenges and develop practical, evidence-based solutions. 
  • Analyse complex data to support informed decision-making. 
  • Handle sensitive information with professionalism and integrity. 
  • Contribute to improving processes and operational guidance. 

You’ll also play a key role in incident response, with full training and support provided, as well as additional payment where applicable. 

We are committed to building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work—we seek it, embrace it, and live it for the benefit of our people, our communities, and the environment. Flexible working patterns, including job sharing, are welcomed. 

If you’re ready to use your skills to protect the environment and help shape a more sustainable future, apply now and be part of the change. 

Please note, there is an expected start date of the 15th June 2026 for this role, subject to change.    

The auditing team is a supportive and diverse team that values collaboration and celebrates success together. United by a shared commitment to protecting the environment, we take real pride in the difference our work makes. Working nationally, we improve recycling quality and ensure packaging is responsibly managed. With a blend of fieldwork and desk-based tasks, we tackle compliance challenges and approach our work with curiosity, integrity, and a genuine willingness to help each other grow. 

You’ll thrive in this role if you can: 

  • Handle challenging conversations with confidence and professionalism. 
  • Travel as needed across the South East as part of our Packaging Producer or Material Facilities team. 
  • Influence and build strong relationships in complex environments. 
  • Produce accurate reports and analyse data using Microsoft Office tools. 
  • Prioritise effectively to manage multiple demands and deliver results. 

Knowledge of compliance and enforcement legislation is a bonus—but don’t worry, full training will be provided.  

We’ll invest in your growth with specialist training, mentoring, and opportunities to progress within the Environment Agency. 

Interviews will be held face‑to‑face at 2 Marsham Street, London, and expected to take place at the start of March 2026.

This role includes an inner London weighting allowance of £4,406 per annum. You will need to live within a reasonable commuting distance of the Marsham Street office (within the M25) due to operational requirements.

The role offers a mix of office and homeworking, with travel expected both across your area and nationally. A full UK driving licence is essential, and we cannot progress applications without this.

For more information, please refer to the candidate pack or contact amy.reeves@environment-agency.gov.uk .

Information calls will run on Friday 30th January at 10:00 and Tuesday 3rd February at 15:00; please email to request an invite amy.reeves@environment-agency.gov.uk or helen.marston@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Describe an example of where you have solved a problem by using relevant information and exploring options?
Communicates Effectively
Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Describe how you used a range of communication methods to present your views in a convincing way?
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.

Describe a time when you persuaded someone or a group to do something that they resisted. Explain the process you went through and how you tried to understand the other person’s point of view?
Full UK Driving License
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.