Regulatory Officer Agriculture - Wessex

Overview

Many are transferrable skills and training will be provided. 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. This may attract additional payment and full training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.

Role requirements
:
You must have a full UK driving licence; IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel), be comfortable using an iPad and a laptop on a daily basis, and be capable of inputting inspection findings into databases; and a willingness to undertake enforcement action where necessary.

Do you have a good knowledge of agriculture in England and want to improve our natural environment? Would you like to be at the forefront of agricultural change? This is an exciting opportunity as we are recruiting to our Wessex Area to undertake regulatory inspections of farms focusing on priority catchments in Wessex. Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our precious water environment.

These can be caused by leaks of slurry and silage effluent, and other materials, stored and spread on farms. We are looking for a dynamic individual, including new graduates, with experience and understanding of UK agriculture, to work with farmers to help increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will contribute to safeguarding and improving the future environment.

The Environment Agency values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community who wish to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.

• carry out targeted farm inspections
• engage with farmers to influence them to change their practice, which may involve difficult conversations
• collect data and produce reports on findings
• be willing to undertake regulatory enforcement action when needed, including prosecutions and the serving of notices

Desirable
:

• experience of working with farmers on UK farms, the UK agriculture sector or regulation of a similar sector
• an understanding of the complexities and challenges of working UK farms
• excellent communication and influencing skills
• an ability to have challenging conversations

• a full UK driving licence
• IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel), be comfortable using an iPad and a laptop on a daily basis, and be capable of inputting inspection findings into databases
• a willingness to undertake enforcement action where necessary

This is a hybrid role based at our offices or depots in Wessex, working at least 40% of the time away from home. You will be required to hold a full driving licence and be willing to travel extensively across the area. Vehicle transport will be provided to allow site inspections. If you are appointed, you will have to undergo vetting - we will conduct open-source checks including publicly available barred lists.

This role is not eligible for a skilled worker visa. For enquiries please contact Chris.westco Interviews will be hosted in February 2026.

Competence 1:
Achieves Results

Description:

Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

• Describe how you prioritised your workload and how you met the final deadline.
• What was the work and timelines you were working to?
• Did you experience any setbacks and if so, what effect did this have?
• What was the outcome?

We recommend the “STAR” approach when assessing these examples. For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary ().

Competence 2:
Influences and Persuades Others

Description:

Give an example of a time when you have had to bring a farmer, landowner or other customer around to your way of thinking.

• What was the situation and what did you do?
• What were the main challenges and how did you overcome these?
• What was the outcome?
• What did you learn and is…