29610 - Fisheries Enforcement Officer

Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone? Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you! We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share. We are looking for a Fisheries Enforcement Officer (FEO) to join us in Cumbria and Lancashire. This is an exciting and rare opportunity, which will suit an individual with a willingness to work in the natural environment as part of a specialist team. The role covers fisheries enforcement and fisheries technical work. Activity will be profiled throughout the year with a minimum of 60% of the time spent delivering Rod licence compliance work, targeted intelligence led patrols to interdict illegal fishing, investigating fish removal and byelaw offences. For this you will be required to hold a full SAFFA warrant. The Job is primarily field based, focussing on how and when to best target different activities. Timely reporting of activities, results and addressing enforcement related customer enquiries are integral. You will also have a good foundation in fisheries science and practical fisheries management. Excellent communication skills and experience of working with a wide range of people is essential. You will be expected to deliver environmental outcomes and build strong relationships, both within the team and with internal and external stakeholders. You will be well-organised and confident, able to use your initiative and work independently. The role includes an area wide incident response element, requiring flexible working and participate in the fisheries duty officer standby roster. The successful candidate will show a willingness to support other officers when required, work pan area, deliver priority work at short notice, including weekends and evenings and respond to incidents. The team The Fisheries Operations and Enforcement Team operates across Cumbria and Lancashire, employing a risk-based approach to protect fish. Officers work independently, support colleagues, and alongside enforcement partners / other agencies. Responsible for both fishery enforcement and fisheries management, team tasks are varied and comprise High Impact Fishery Enforcement, rod licence compliance, advice on keeping / movement of fish, and non-native species. In addition, team members have an incident role in support of the Agency.

Essential:

• Passionate about the environment combined with a willingness to learn about environmental regulation and enforcement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Information technology literate: competent with MS Office applications.
• Proven ability to complete tasks accurately, with minimum supervision, working individually or part of a team.
Desirable:
• Experience of investigating crime and taking enforcement action would be advantageous.
• Experience in conflict resolution techniques would be advantageous: officers are expected to pass mandatory conflict resolution training, which demands a level of physical fitness.
• Knowledge of fisheries and environmental legislation would be advantageous.
• Boat handling experience / qualifications would be beneficial.