Environment Officer - Land & Water

Penrith, Welwyn Garden City, London SE2 (Abbey Wood) West Malling, Canterbury, Sevenoaks, Rotherham, Norwich, Ipswich, Warrington, Wallingford, Farnham, Romsey, Pevensey, WorthingPermanent, Full Time Grade: EOA

At the Environment Agency, your work makes a real and lasting difference. As one of the UK’s leading environmental regulators, we tackle the major challenges of water quality, pollution, and land management. We’re values-driven, impact-focused, and committed to protecting the environment and communities across the country.

What we offer you:

• A starting salary of £28,859.
• Generous pension scheme of up to 19%
• 25 days holiday + 8 bank holidays, plus 2 additional paid days for environmental volunteering.
• Flexible working options considered.
• Overtime opportunities for incident and standby work.
• Full training, equipment, and support for your safety and success.
• A culture that supports career progression, diversity, and inclusion.

About the role

As an Environment Officer – Land & Water, you'll join one of our frontline regulatory teams, working with businesses, farmers, landowners, and communities to protect and improve the local environment.

You will regulate activities that affect both water quality and quantity, including:

• Water companies to ensure discharges and operations don’t harm people or the environment.
• Farms and agricultural premises of all sizes, including sites with intensive pig and poultry production.
• Abstraction licences for those taking water from rivers or groundwater for crop irrigation, cooling systems or drinking supply.

You’ll carry out inspections, ensure compliance with environmental permits, and—when needed—take enforcement action. In serious cases, this could include preparing evidence for prosecution and giving evidence in court.

This is a role where you will see tangible results from your work, whether it’s preventing pollution, improving a watercourse, or protecting precious ecosystems.

You’ll also:

• Engage directly with customers, communities, and operators.
• Travel frequently, sometimes at short notice, to inspect sites and respond to issues.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Environment Agency.
• Get involved in incident response, including out-of-hours working when required (full training provided and additional payments may apply).

All Environment Officers have a designated incident role. You’ll be trained and supported to take part in our national incident response framework, which may involve occasional out-of-hours work. Full training and additional payments apply.

Your development journey

You’ll join at EOA grade and follow a structured development programme leading to promotion to EOB grade. This typically takes around 18 months.

Your training will include:

• Residential sessions (3–5 days at a time, for at least 3 weeks overall).
• On-the-job learning.
• Support to build your technical knowledge, regulatory understanding, and personal effectiveness.

We’ll provide all the tools, training, and PPE you need to stay safe and succeed in your role.

What we're looking for:

• A full UK driving licence.

Please note, if you are invited to interview, we will contact you to conduct a DVLA driving licence check. More information on this process will be provided to you should you reach this stage of the recruitment process.

• A GCSE (Grade A–C or equivalent) in a science-related subject OR equivalent practical experience.
• Customer service experience – you’ll be working with the public and regulated operators.
• A passion for environmental protection, and the resilience to work in a challenging but highly rewarding field.
• If you already have a scientific background or experience in a regulatory environment, that’s great—but if not, we’ll help you develop those skills.

Why choose the Environment Agency?

Join the UK's largest environmental organisation and be part of a team that tackles national challenges head-on. We are committed to achieving tangible results, from implementing industry regulations to restoring polluted water bodies. We invest in our people, providing tailored training, equipment, and a collaborative community where your contributions truly matter.

As an organisation we strive to reflect the communities we serve. To achieve this, we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, and religion.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Click apply and start your application today! 

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the UK's biggest environmental organisation. Join us, and together, let's tackle the challenges of a changing climate and build a more sustainable future. Apply now and embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey with the Environment Agency. 

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. Please see our candidate guidance on our careers site for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Please note: Candidates selected for interview will be notified by email at least five days in advance. Please check both your inbox and junk mail folders to ensure you don’t miss our message.

Closing date for applications: 10th November 2025.
Interview dates: Week Commencing 24th November 2025 and 1st December 2025.
Indicative start date: February/March 2026.