Location
Nottingham / Newcastle or Darlington / Warrington, Preston or Penrith / Lincoln, Kettering, Peterborough, Brampton or Bedford / London Abbey Wood (+£2,117 PA outer London weighting for this location only) / Tolgus, Bodmin, Launceston or Exeter / Bridgwater, Chippenham or Blandford Forum

Hours
Permanent, Full-time (part-time to be considered on a case-by-case basis)

Salary
£41,617 per annum

About the Role
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. Our regulation teams work to hold underperforming water companies to account and ensure compliance with environmental law. This includes preventing pollution, regulating 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. You will be part of a pivotal moment in shaping the future of water regulation in England.

As a Senior Environment Officer, you will plan and deliver complex regulatory activities including site inspections, audits, and incident investigations. You will take enforcement action when necessary, sometimes providing evidence in court. You will help shape industry standards, mentor junior officers, and provide guidance and quality assurance to ensure the highest regulatory and environmental standards.

You will provide technical advice to managers and contribute to programmes aimed at raising regulatory performance across the sector. While recruited into a specific area with a designated office base, flexibility is important as you may be required to work with teams in other locations or adapt to changing priorities.

We offer a supportive organisation that values difference and inclusivity, flexible and hybrid working options, a generous pension scheme (currently 19% of pensionable pay), 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, standby and incident response payments, two paid environmental outcome days each year to volunteer in your community, extensive training and career development, and generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Experience
At least three years’ experience in the water sector, particularly in regulation or compliance, is ideal. However, candidates with relevant skills, transferable experience, and a strong motivation to protect the environment are also welcome.

Experience in planning and delivering regulatory activities, enforcement action, and mentoring is highly valued.

About you
You are a confident and proactive self-starter, driven to achieve results and bring fresh, innovative ideas. You have strong communication and mentoring abilities and can manage competing priorities with excellent planning and organisation skills.

A passion for environmental protection and a commitment to integrity, transparency, and environmental responsibility are essential.

A full UK driving licence is required due to travel across a wide geographic area.

Qualifications
A background in science or engineering is advantageous. Relevant professional membership is desirable but not essential, as support will be provided to achieve this.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not meet the full experience requirements but can demonstrate relevant skills, transferable experience, and a passion for environmental protection.