Job description
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don't just talk about diversity, we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.
Everyone starting in a new role will be welcomed into the team and given all of the training and support needed. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.
The role of a Disclosure Officer is critical to the ability of the Environment Agency to conduct robust investigations into criminal activity associated to environmental offending, which is key to our organisational objectives to protect and improve the environment.
As a Disclosure Officer you will be part of a national team within the National Environmental Crime Unit, and you will perform an imperative role on serious and significant environmental crime cases and water investigations in compliance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and related legislation and guidance.
You will be assigned as the principal disclosure officer on specific cases, working with both investigating officers located in area teams and with our legal services department. This will require you to build and maintain strong working relationships over a wide spectrum to provide the best possible service.
You will also be available to provide advice and guidance about disclosure and best practice on less significant investigations.
The role involves working on complex investigations involving significant volumes of evidence and unused material generated during the enquiry and dealing with it in the appropriate way according to the legislation.
The disclosure team is part of the National Environmental Crime Unit who manage major and serious investigations into environmental offending, dealing with waste criminality and water-based investigations.
This is a growing area of criminality, and the disclosure team has been established to specifically manage material generated during such investigations, dealing with it according to the appropriate legislation and promoting best practice across our organisation.
- Knowledge and experience of performing the role of Principal Disclosure Officer on investigations and preparing accurate unused schedules.
- Detailed knowledge of Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
- Detailed knowledge of Attorney General’s Guidelines 2020 and 2022
Desirable skills and experience:
- High level of computer literacy – particularly Microsoft Excel and maintenance of large databases
- Knowledge of criminal investigations and legislation governing investigation such as Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Regulation of Investigative Powers Act 2000
- Excellent organisational skills with attention to detail and the ability to produce detailed and accurate reports to specific time scales.
- Proven ability to adapt your written and oral communication style to a diverse range of customers and audiences which will maintain relationships over a wide geographical area
- Proven record of managing an extensive and complex workload with a minimum of supervision
For further information contact [email protected], martin.compton@environment-agency,gov.uk and [email protected].
It is anticipated that interviews will be in person and will take place at Aqua House, Birmingham during May.
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.
