Intelligence Development Officer

Our organisation is growing and we’re at the heart of delivering the Government’s agricultural transition and making a genuine difference to the health of our environment and rural economy. We continue to make year on year improvements in performance as we become a data and intelligence-led organisation, embedding our vision of customer excellence at every level and growing our reputation to make a difference every day.
Our Data & Innovation Business Area is a multidisciplinary team including Geospatial Analysts, Data Engineers and Architects, Data Analysts and Intelligence Analysts. Together, we’re in a unique position to use our specialist skills to work with the agricultural community to deliver big, impactful change, supporting high level environmental and animal welfare outcomes and the move towards net zero. This is a really exciting time to join our team as we grow and develop our ability to continuously analyse nationwide agricultural activity and provide agile, directed data and evidence-driven support to the farming community.
how open and approachable we are and our commitment to individual development, investing in the skills of our people and creating an environment in which everyone can flourish.
Further details can be found at Rural Payments Agency - GOV.This newly created Intelligence Development and Advisory Officer role is central to embedding intelligence-led approaches across the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), in alignment with the National Intelligence Model. Working within the Intelligence, Monitoring and Tasking Unit, you will help identify areas of high risk for non-compliance with RPA-managed funding schemes and regulations, protecting public funds and supporting environmental outcomes.
You will play a hands-on role in intelligence gathering, supporting field teams, and enhancing the quality and flow of intelligence across the organisation. The role involves close collaboration with internal teams and external partners to strengthen the RPA’s understanding of fraud and non-compliance risks.
Act as a deployable intelligence resource, responding to specific intelligence requirements and supporting field operations across England (regular travel required).
Identify and cultivate new internal sources of intelligence. Provide training and guidance to teams on recognising and reporting high-quality intelligence.
Support the development of intelligence-led processes and contribute to RPA’s understanding of fraud and error.
Regular travel is required for this role, therefore the successful candidate will need a valid UK driving license.
This newly created Intelligence Development and Advisory Officer role is central to embedding intelligence-led approaches across the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), in alignment with the National Intelligence Model. Working within the Intelligence, Monitoring and Tasking Unit, you will help identify areas of high risk for non-compliance with RPA-managed funding schemes and regulations, protecting public funds and supporting environmental outcomes.
You will play a hands-on role in intelligence gathering, supporting field teams, and enhancing the quality and flow of intelligence across the organisation. The role involves close collaboration with internal teams and external partners to strengthen the RPA’s understanding of fraud and non-compliance risks.
Act as a deployable intelligence resource, responding to specific intelligence requirements and supporting field operations across England (regular travel required).
Identify and cultivate new internal sources of intelligence. Provide training and guidance to teams on recognising and reporting high-quality intelligence.
Support the development of intelligence-led processes and contribute to RPA’s understanding of fraud and error.
Regular travel is required for this role, therefore the successful candidate will need a valid UK driving license.
Proven experience in intelligence gathering and development within a public sector or enforcement environment.
Understanding of the National Intelligence Model and its practical application.
Competence in training or coaching others on intelligence standards and reporting.
Valid UK Driving Licence
Alongside your salary of £34,765, Rural Payments Agency contributes £10,071 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Interviews will take place week commencing 12th January 2026
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. Submitting content that has been generated by AI or copied from others and presented as your own may be considered plagiarism. Applications found to contain such content may be withdrawn, and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both RPA’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to RPA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website .
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.