EHP/Food & Safety Officer

Overview

Are you looking for a new challenge where your skills and expertise can be truly valued? If so, this could be the role for you. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated EHP/ Food & Safety Officer to join our team and make a real difference. The successful candidate will directly contribute to the Environmental Health Service objectives, ensuring the provision of an effective, consistent, and high-quality service that is responsive to customer demands.

You will undertake inspections, investigations and required activities to ensure regulatory compliance by our clients. This will range from providing informal advice to undertaking formal action and prosecution in accordance with Codes of Practices and guidance. You will also work proactively with the Environmental Health management team to implement changes and bring about improvements in overall service delivery.

This is an extremely exciting time to join our expanding and forward-thinking Environmental Health team, who are essential to the delivery of the Council’s dedicated strategy for a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment for all those who live, work and visit our area. No two days are the same, as you will be part of a team that manages and maintains a large, diverse and ever-changing geographical area.

About us

The Environmental Health Service is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that reflect the needs and priorities of our community. Our work is guided by the Council’s strategic commitments and its pledge to residents, as well as the standards and targets set by the Food Standards Agency.

We are proud to contribute to the Council’s annual plan and lead on projects that foster a culture of excellence. Our team is committed to providing outstanding regulatory services that meet the expectations of our clients and stakeholders. We value collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement in everything we do.

Why Join Us?

You will join a supportive team and gain fantastic exposure within the Public Sector environment. We support professional development, and there are lots of opportunities to be part of high-end projects and to develop in your career with us.

Additionally, you will enjoy a range of benefits, including a very competitive employer pension contribution, a great work-life balance, generous annual leave allowance, and discounts on a variety of services and restaurants.

About the role

Are you passionate about protecting public health and making a real difference in your community? We’re looking for a proactive and dedicated Food and Safety Officer to help deliver our ambitious Environmental Health strategy.

Reporting to the Commercial and Environmental Health Manager, you’ll play a vital role within a supportive and forward-thinking team. You’ll contribute to the delivery of a high-quality, responsive service that meets the needs of our residents and aligns with the Council’s vision and values.

In this role, you’ll carry out investigations and take action to ensure regulatory compliance—ranging from offering informal advice to pursuing formal enforcement and prosecution, all in line with national Codes of Practice and guidance. You’ll be at the forefront of safeguarding public health and driving service excellence.

We’re looking for someone who’s not only technically skilled but also enthusiastic about continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with the Environmental Health management team to implement positive changes and help shape the future of our service.

Role responsibility as follows:

• You will operate at a senior level within the Commercial team to provide professional environmental health input to meet the service objectives ensuring the provision of an effective, consistent and high-quality service that is responsive to customer demands.
• Undertake inspections, investigations, prosecutions, and regulatory activities as necessary.
• Manage a personal caseload across the range of environmental health disciplines to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance with Council policies, procedures, and performance indicators.
• Develop, implement, and review special projects and assigned tasks, including promotional, advisory, and educational activities.
• Develop and build relationships to influence and engage successfully with our partners, other agencies and clients in often complex situations.
• Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge of appropriate legal, technical, and social issues to ensure the delivery of an effective quality service.
• Provide training and support to officers to maintain competencies to deliver regulatory interventions.
• Respond to consultations in relation to notified public events regarding public safety, food safety, and health and safety, including attending safety advisory group meetings for specific events.

Mobile Workers:

This role follows a mobile working style, offering flexibility to manage your schedule and work from a range of locations. You may meet colleagues and clients at different sites, work from partner offices, public spaces, or from home between appointments. To work effectively, you must be able to securely access all necessary files and folders remotely. While daily office attendance is not required, there will be occasions when working from the office is necessary.

About you

The role is challenging but professionally very rewarding. The Council is looking for applicants who possess all the technical abilities required of a professionally qualified authorised officer.

To be considered for this role, you’ll need a degree, MSc in Environmental Health, or the Higher Certificate in Food Control therefore possessing the ‘suitable qualification’ required for food hygiene enforcement set out in the Food Standards Agency Food Law Code of Practice for authorised officers who undertake assessments of compliance with food law and take enforcement action, as appropriate.

You should also demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development in line with Institute guidelines, along with evidence of compliance with the Food Standards Agency Competency Framework.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential for this role. Flexibility is also key—you’ll need to be available to work within the service’s core hours and occasionally outside of standard office hours. Any out-of-hours work will be appropriately compensated.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

Number of positions available: 3 Positions

Salary: £43,894 to £51,758 dependent on experience

Interview-type: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Andrew Collinson, Commercial & Environmental Health Manager on, 01494 421710.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/