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.
Are you a motivated leader eager to drive positive change and make a real impact? As an Enforcement Team Leader, you’ll lead a dynamic team tackling the most serious environmental offences across Cumbria and Lancashire Area. Your team will carry out disruption operations, investigate suspected offences, and enforce regulations on high-risk environmental crimes with a clear focus on risk and safety.
What You’ll Do
• Provide inspiring leadership to empower your team to act decisively and professionally.
• Champion health, safety, and wellbeing as fundamental parts of all activities.
• Ensure your team has the right training, resources, and support to succeed.
• Motivate and develop individuals through effective performance management and ongoing coaching.
• Drive proactive operations to prevent illegal environmental activities, working closely with national teams and external partners to share vital intelligence.
• Contribute to the local Regulated Industry Leadership Team, shaping delivery and supporting the wider department.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents, or provide business continuity support during an incident.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a proven track record of delivering successful outcomes through others.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, able to adapt to different audiences and motivate stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of internal and external customers, often working remotely or across teams.
• Skilled at managing multiple priorities, solving problems, and following governance and procedures—particularly within criminal investigations.
Note: Experience in enforcement, regulation, or criminal proceedings is desirable but not essential. Your leadership ability and capacity to deliver high-quality outcomes is what matters most.
An extra internal security check will be completed due to specific criteria in the enforcement team. This check is done mitigate risk of insider threat and to manage the importance of integrity with high-risk roles only.
You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given.
We welcome applications for flexible working patterns. This role offers hybrid working (once fully trained) with an expectation that you will attend your local Cumbria & Lancashire office on average 3 days per week. Travel to other sites may be required; therefore a full UK driving licence is essential.
Please read the Additional Information Pack for information. Any queries, contact [email protected]
Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions.
If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.
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.
Describe a time you are particularly proud of when you led a team to deliver a successful outcome. What role did you play?
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.
