At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead intelligence activities to combat illegal imports and protect public health at Felixstowe Port.
- Company: Join East Suffolk Council, making a real difference in local communities.
- Benefits: Generous leave, flexible working, local government pension, and discounts on various products.
- Other info: Agile working environment with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Be part of a vital team ensuring safety and compliance at one of the UK's busiest ports.
- Qualifications: Experience in intelligence, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities.
The predicted salary is between 44075 - 48226 € per year.
East Suffolk Council – Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (Felixstowe Port, IP11 3SY)
£44,075 - £48,226 (Band 8)
37 hours per week 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
Why work for us?
East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. 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.
Most of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements.
For more information:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Ian Cobain, Compliance Manager at Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority (Ian.Cobain@scpha.gov.uk or 0845 6461310). Please note that only full applications will be considered. CVs are not accepted. Applications are subject to a point scoring process against the Personal Specification and Job Description. Successful candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview.
Closing date: 11:30pm on 19th June 2026
Interview date: w/c 6th July 2026
How to apply:
Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification.
Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).
Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.
Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe employer: Suffolk Jobs Direct
East Suffolk Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional development. With generous leave entitlements, flexible working arrangements, and access to various staff support networks, employees can thrive both personally and professionally while making a meaningful impact in the community. Located at the bustling Port of Felixstowe, the role of Intelligence Officer provides unique opportunities to engage with partner agencies and contribute to vital public health initiatives.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the role inside out! Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and skills required for the Intelligence Officer position. This way, you can tailor your approach during interviews and discussions, showing that you're genuinely interested and well-prepared.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at East Suffolk Council, especially those in the Port Health team. They can provide insider tips and insights that could give you an edge in your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for potential interview questions by rehearsing your responses. Focus on your experience in intelligence, enforcement, and compliance, and be ready to discuss how you've handled similar challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application is seen by the right people. Plus, it shows that you’re serious about joining the team at East Suffolk Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Intelligence Officer in Felixstowe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Thoroughly:Before you start writing, make sure you understand what the role of Intelligence Officer entails. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and essential skills required. This will help you tailor your application to show how you fit the bill.
Use the Supporting Statement Template:Don’t forget to use the provided Supporting Statement template! It’s designed to help you clearly demonstrate how you meet each criterion in the Person Specification. Stick to the format, as other formats won’t be accepted.
Be Specific and Relevant:When detailing your experience, be specific about your past roles and how they relate to the job. Use examples that highlight your skills in intelligence analysis, communication, and relationship building. This will make your application stand out!
Apply Through Our Website:Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re following the correct process. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at East Suffolk Council!
How to prepare for a job interview at Suffolk Jobs Direct
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of an Intelligence Officer and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. Familiarise yourself with concepts like risk assessments, intelligence analysis, and enforcement strategies. This will help you answer questions confidently and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your relevant experience in intelligence, compliance, or border control. Think of specific examples where you've identified trends or risks, and be ready to explain how you handled those situations. This will demonstrate your capability and readiness for the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since the role involves working closely with partner agencies, think about how you can convey your ability to build strong working relationships. Share examples from your past where collaboration led to successful outcomes. This will highlight your interpersonal skills and teamwork.
✨Prepare Questions
Have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. This could be about the team dynamics, ongoing projects, or how success is measured in the role. Asking questions shows your enthusiasm and helps you gauge if the organisation is the right fit for you.
