Environment Officer

**Environment Officer - Waste Regulation**

**£27,749 leading to £33,000 after approximately 18 months**

**Location -** **Farnham**

**Permanent, Full Time**

**Staff Grade**:EOA**

**About Us**:
**The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife, and supports sustainable development.**

Being an Environment Officer is one of the most important roles at the Environment Agency. The waste industry is an essential part of our residential, commercial and industrial infrastructure that is worth £25 billion, employs almost 150,000 people and manages an estimated 75 million tonnes of waste a year.

**Why Choose Us**:

- **Make a Significant Impact**: At the EA (Environment Agency) your work has the power to create a lasting impact. The EA plays a lead role in preserving and protecting precious ecosystems and everything associated with waste use through effective regulation. Your contributions directly protect and enhance the environment, ensuring a brighter future for all.
- **Dynamic and Rewarding**: Join a team that thrives on tackling national challenges head-on. At the EA, you'll be part of a dynamic and collaborative environment, working alongside passionate professionals who share your commitment to making a difference.
- **Focus on Results**: Our work goes beyond rhetoric, as we deliver tangible results. From successfully implementing industry regulations to restoring polluted water bodies, the EA has a track record of achieving meaningful outcomes that positively impact both people and the planet.
- **Continuous Growth**: Your professional development matters to us. We provide a range of opportunities for growth, including tailored training programs, mentorship initiatives, and access to cutting-edge technologies. At the EA, you'll continuously grow your skills and expertise, staying at the forefront of environmental innovation.
- **Join a Values-Driven Organisation**: Ethical and values-driven, the EA upholds integrity, transparency, and environmental stewardship. By joining us, you align yourself with an organisation that holds itself accountable and genuinely cares about creating a sustainable and resilient future.
- **Collaborative Community**: At the EA, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. You'll work with diverse teams, bringing together experts from various fields to tackle complex environmental challenges. Together, we foster a supportive and inclusive community that encourages collaboration, creativity, and knowledge exchange.

**What will you do**:
Based in one of our area offices as an Environment Officer - Waste, you will be responsible for regulating a range of waste management companies related to their permitted activities. You will be expected to regulate a wide variety of waste industry sectors and business models from small individual operators to large corporate bodies, who use a wide variety of chemical, biological and physical treatment processes in their waste management activities ensuring they are carried out without polluting the environment or causing harm to people. The sectors we regulate include landfill, biowaste, têxtiles, food & drink and metals.

You will also be responsible for:

- Tackling illegal waste activities to protect legitimate businesses and prevent environmental harm.
- Working with external partners, including local authorities, police, fire and rescue services, and the public.
- Understanding business financial incentives and helping industries adopt sustainable practices.
- Engaging with local businesses and communities, using strong customer service skills.
- Enforcing regulations and taking action against breaches. This can lead to potentially confrontational situations and, for the most serious offences, may require giving evidence in court.
- Responding to environmental incidents, sometimes out of hours (with potential additional payment).

You will also:

- Work collaboratively within a team, receiving backup from colleagues and incident support staff
- Using your excellent customer service skills to engage with local business, communities, and operators
- Enforce environmental regulations and ensure waste management companies improve their performance
- Travel frequently and sometimes unexpectedly to various sites to conduct inspections and take action if environmental regulations have been breached

The waste industry faces challenges to constantly strive to minimise and reduce waste, recycle and prevent waste going to disposal routes which have higher environmental impact. This makes the waste industry one of the most interesting, varied and innovative sectors to work with. Learning how the industry works, how to follow the financial incentives for business, and future proof industry is an extremely interesting and rewarding part of the role that will equip you as a regulator to engage positively with industry partners.

**Training & Development**

You’ll enter the role on a EOA grade and follow a structured