City/Town
Sheffield
Region
National
Vacancies
1
Salary Minimum
£43,198
Post Type
Permanent
Job ID
34233
Closing date
14 Jun 2026
Published date
31 May 2026
Grade
Staff Grade 5
Role type
Operational Delivery
Post type
Full Time, Part Time, Other
Security check
Basic Check
Job description
We are looking for an enthusiastic Senior Technical Officer to join the Combined Packaging Regime within Waste Markets & Shipments (WM&S), to use your analytical skills to clean up our environment and drive forward the circular economy goals, through a brand-new deposit return scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and cans.
As Senior Technical Officer you will lead on using data analytics to support the implementation and ongoing development of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Your work will help ensure that data collected through the scheme is robust, accurate, and used effectively to assess fraud risk and monitor compliance.
By harnessing data, you can help streamline collection, reduce waste, and supercharge the circular economy, turning discarded items into valuable resources.
You’ll collaborate with colleagues across the Environment Agency, Defra, the devolved administrations, and industry stakeholders to turn policy into operational systems. By identifying patterns and analysing trends, you’ll directly contribute to ensuring the scheme functions as intended.
You’ll analyse data to develop dashboards, reports, and models to support the enforcement and monitoring of the scheme.
As Senior Technical Officer this will involve…
- Collaborating with policy, digital, and regulatory teams to shape the DRS digital infrastructure and ensure data quality.
- Providing expert analytical insight to inform decision-making across the Environment Agency and with government partners.
- Helping define and improve data governance and reporting standards for the scheme.
- Train and Support Regulatory Officers to become confident in their role and deliver the above
- Attend national industry events
We are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please clearly include any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We are a national team, ensuring that companies are managing their packaging waste correctly by enforcing government regulation. As a Senior Technical Officer, you will oversee compliance within the DRS scheme across the drinks supply chain.
WM&S is a supportive and inclusive department that encourages our teams’ health, safety, wellbeing, and development. We aim to improve the quality of recycling and ensure waste entering and leaving the country is handled appropriately for recycling and recovery.
In your capability-based answers please demonstrate your:
Outstanding data and information management, with sound attention to detail
Experience of using R or Python programming languages (or similar) for data analysis
Ability to analyse large complex data sets to ensure the accuracy of data submitted to us
Excellent communication skills, conveying data and information into plain English to negotiate outcomes and influence those you work with
Ability to work with a variety of colleagues to solve complex technical issues and deliver outcomes
Experience in supporting and influencing others to deliver based on priority
Experience of working with customers and colleagues to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements is desirable not essential.
You will be required to have an incident role which may attract an additional payment. Full training will be available to support you with your incident role.
Our team is based in Sheffield and currently works flexibly between the office/home. Regular travel to the Sheffield office is required. Occasional travel to other national locations is also required.
We offer an attractive benefits package including:
A fantastic pension scheme, flexible working and a starting annual leave allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays (pro rata). See the candidate pack for further information.
Interviews will be conducted virtually week commencing 29th June 2026. Successful candidates may be kept in a pool for future vacancies within the next 6 months.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Kayleigh Morley at [email protected] or Matthew Cooper at [email protected]
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift using this lead capability may be conducted. Successful candidates will then proceed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview.
Feedback is generally not available at sift stage
Question:
Using the STAR format please give an example of when you have analysed an unprocessed data set and produced a set list of visuals/graphs. What steps did you take? How did you manage and process the data? What tools did you use?
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
Question:
Using the STAR format please give an example of a time when you have had to bring others round to your way of thinking on a challenging matter. What resistance did you encounter? How did you adapt your approach?
More information on how to answer competency questions can be found in the candidate pack.
Question:
Using the STAR format describe a situation where you needed to translate complex data into a clear message for a non-technical audience. What approach did you take? How did you check understanding?
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.