Location
London SE18 (Abbey Wood)

Hours
Full-time, Permanent

Salary
£28,859 per year plus £2,186 PA Outer London Weighting, rising to £34,320 after approximately 18 months

About the Role
Are you ready to take on a role that makes a real difference? Join the Environment Agency’s water industry regulation teams and help lead the fight against growing and increasingly complex environmental crime. Our teams hold water companies to account, ensuring compliance with environmental law while protecting the environment from harm caused by sewage treatment works, storm overflows, and the sewerage network.

This is a pivotal moment to join as we shape the future of water regulation in England. As an Environment Officer, you will regulate one of the nine national water companies, working to prevent pollution and improve environmental outcomes.

You will be part of a frontline team focused on building a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment. Your responsibilities will include planning and carrying out compliance activities, enforcing environmental regulations, engaging with local businesses and communities, and taking enforcement action where necessary, including preparing evidence for legal proceedings in serious cases.

The role involves frequent travel, sometimes at short notice, and occasional overnight stays. You will follow a structured development programme, starting at EOA grade with progression to EOB grade typically within 18 months. Initial training includes residential classroom sessions and field visits with experienced officers. All necessary training, equipment, and clothing will be provided to ensure your safety.

Flexibility is important as you may be required to work with teams in other locations or adapt to changing priorities across different areas.

Benefits
- Generous pension scheme (currently 19% of pensionable pay)
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
- Standby and incident response payments
- Flexible 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.

Experience
- Relevant professional experience in science, environmental work or regulation
- Experience working with customers and the ability to communicate effectively, adapting style to different audiences

About you
- Passionate about environmental improvement and committed to learning
- Resilient and adaptable to changing priorities
- Able to travel frequently, sometimes at short notice, including overnight stays
- Willing to take on incident response roles with additional pay and training provided

Qualifications
- Full UK driving licence
- GCSE Grade A–C / Grade 9–4 in a science-related subject or equivalent

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds. While direct regulatory or scientific experience is beneficial, it is not essential if you meet the above requirements and demonstrate a strong scientific understanding and commitment to environmental protection.