At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead intelligence activities to combat illegal imports and support public health.
- Company: Join East Suffolk Council, making a difference in local communities.
- Benefits: Generous leave, flexible working, and discounts on various products.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact at one of the UK's busiest ports.
- Qualifications: Experience in intelligence or compliance, strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 44075 - 48226 € per year.
East Suffolk Council, Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (SCPHA) is located at Felixstowe Port, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 3SY.
Salary: £44,075 - £48,226 per annum, Band 8
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk. We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Port Health team as an Intelligence Officer, working in the Port of Felixstowe. This is an exciting opportunity to help protect public and animal health by tackling illegal imports, supporting enforcement activity, and developing intelligence‑led ways of working across one of the UK’s busiest ports.
The successful candidate will work closely with Port Health Officers, Official Veterinarians and other partner agencies to identify risks, analyse intelligence, and support operational activity linked to illegal trade and non‑compliant imports.
Your role
As Intelligence Officer, you will lead on developing and managing intelligence activity within Port Health. You will identify trends, risks, and emerging threats linked to illegal imports and organised non‑compliance, helping operational teams target inspections and enforcement activity effectively. The role will support both day‑to‑day operational decision‑making and longer‑term strategic planning, helping ensure Port Health remains intelligence‑led, resilient, and prepared for emerging threats at the border. You will also play a key role in building strong relationships with partner agencies and ensuring intelligence is handled lawfully, professionally, and securely.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain threat and risk assessments linked to illegal trade and non‑compliant imports
- Identify emerging risks, smuggling methods, and trends in trade activity
- Support intelligence‑led targeting of inspections and enforcement activity
- Work closely with operational teams and external agencies to coordinate intelligence activity
- Maintain intelligence records, databases, and case management systems
- Ensure intelligence is handled in line with legal and information governance requirements
- Produce intelligence briefings and reports for operational teams and senior managers
- Support operational planning, tasking meetings, and post‑operation reviews
- Help develop intelligence procedures, policies, and working practices
- Promote an intelligence‑led culture across Port Health
- Support incident response and high‑risk operational activity
- Contribute to funding opportunities, business cases, and intelligence‑related projects
What you will need
Essential:
- Experience working in intelligence, enforcement, investigations, compliance, border control, or a similar field
- Experience analysing information and identifying trends or risks
- Strong communication and report‑writing skills
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
- Experience building strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders
- Good IT and data management skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Experience handling intelligence in an operational environment
- Knowledge of local government or border control operations
- Experience developing intelligence‑led programmes of work
- Experience working with partner agencies
- Budget or project management experience
Desirable:
- Experience handling intelligence in an operational environment
- Knowledge of local government or border control operations
- Experience developing intelligence‑led programmes of work
- Experience working with partner agencies
- Budget or project management experience
Benefits
- Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
- Local government pension scheme
- Flexible working arrangements
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
- Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.
Closing date: 11:30 pm, 19 June 2026.
Interview date: Week commencing 6 July 2026.
Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe employer: Suffolk County Council
East Suffolk Council is a dynamic employer dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for over a quarter of a million residents in East Suffolk. As an Intelligence Officer within the Port Health team at the bustling Port of Felixstowe, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises professional development and offers generous benefits, including flexible working arrangements and a robust local government pension scheme. Join us to make a meaningful impact while benefiting from a variety of staff support networks and discounts on numerous products and services.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those connected to East Suffolk Council or Port Health. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research the latest trends in illegal imports and border control. Being able to discuss current issues will show you're genuinely interested and ready to tackle the challenges as an Intelligence Officer.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a mate to do a mock interview with you. This way, you can refine your answers and get comfortable talking about your experience in intelligence and compliance.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in intelligence and enforcement. We want to see how your skills align with the role of Intelligence Officer, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant examples!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since strong communication and report-writing skills are essential for this role, make sure your application is clear and concise. We love a well-structured application that reflects your ability to convey information effectively.
Highlight Your Teamwork Experience:We value collaboration, so be sure to mention any experience you have working with partner agencies or teams. Share specific instances where you’ve built strong relationships or coordinated efforts to tackle challenges.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity with East Suffolk Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Suffolk County Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the key responsibilities of the Intelligence Officer role. Understand the importance of intelligence in tackling illegal imports and how it supports operational teams. Familiarise yourself with recent trends in trade activity and any relevant legislation.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience in intelligence, enforcement, or compliance. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've identified risks or trends in the past. Highlight your strong communication and report-writing skills, as these will be crucial in this role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves working closely with partner agencies, think about how you can demonstrate your ability to build strong working relationships. Prepare examples of past collaborations and how they led to successful outcomes, especially in an operational environment.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions that show your interest in the role and the organisation. Inquire about the current challenges faced by the Port Health team or how they measure the success of their intelligence-led initiatives. This shows you're engaged and thinking strategically.
