Senior Enforcement Officer (Water Industry) - 31795

Are you ready to take on a role that makes a real difference? We're looking for a self-motivated individual to play a key role leading the enforcement of environmental offences, helping address complex and serious performance issues within the water industry. As an experienced enforcement officer, you'll lead on governance and assurance for investigations and enforcement activity within your hub. You’ll maintain oversight of cases relating to the water industry, ensuring a consistent, high-quality approach.

You'll help develop and grow the wider enforcement community by supporting, mentoring and training colleagues involved in enforcement across the organisation. Building strong relationships and providing excellent internal customer service will be key to embedding new ways of working and supporting the team’s success.

You'll provide expert technical advice to officers and managers on the appropriate use of enforcement tools, ensuring governance processes are followed and assurance activities delivered where needed. You will support efficient, outcome-focused decision-making in line with policy and guidance, while maintaining oversight of enforcement activity through data monitoring, trend analysis and performance reporting to help shape priorities. Alongside this, you will mentor and develop colleagues, working with senior officers to identify training needs and deliver targeted development. A key part of the role will be driving continuous improvement by reviewing cases, sharing learning and embedding consistent, effective processes across the team.

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 starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.

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.

You can choose to be based from either Romsey, Chichester, Worthing, Pevensey, Canterbury, Addington or Tonbridge. We anticipate this role will require a minimum of 2 days a week either out on site or in the office.

In this role, you’ll bring strong decision-making skills and the ability to identify and manage priorities effectively. You’ll ensure enforcement decisions are well-informed, consistent, efficient and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes.

Essential:

- A full UK driving licence as the role may involve travel across a wide geographic area.
- Experience of enforcement activity, including an understanding of serious and/or complex investigations.
- The ability to analyse data, identify trends and contribute to tackling root causes of non-compliance.
- A sound working knowledge of relevant legislation, such as the Environmental Permitting Regulations, Environment Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act and its Code of Practice, and the Data Protection Act.

Desirable:

- Experience contributing to strategies aimed at detecting or preventing environmental offending.
- An understanding of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.
- Experience in regulation or working within the water industry.

For more information, please contact regulationresourcing@environment-agency.gov.uk

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 20th October via MS Teams.

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.

You'll 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.

A reserve list will be held, and candidates may be considered for similar roles that match this opportunity.

When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer.

Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Question: Please describe a recent decision you made that required careful thought and analysis. What options did you consider, how did you evaluate them and what led you to your final choice?

When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer.

Description: 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.

Question: Please describe a time when you successfully persuaded someone to take a particular course of action. How did you identify and align with their priorities?

When answering the following question, you may find using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) helpful in structuring your answer.

Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: Please tell us about a time when you had to communicate effectively in a challenging situation. What obstacles did you face, how did you address them and what would you do differently next time?

Full UK driving licence