Senior Environmental Crime Officer

**Senior Environmental Crime Officer**

**Salary**:£41,617
**Location**:Darlington
**Grade**:G5
**Post Type**:Permanent, Full-time (part-time to be considered on a case-by-case basis)
**Advert close**:Monday 29th September
**Interviews to be held**: w/c Monday 20th October, w/c Monday 27th October

**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 flexibil