Job title: Senior Environmental Health Officer (Food & Health Team)

Salary: PO3 £44,253 - £47,665

Hours: Full Time – 37 Hours p/w

Contract: Permanent

Location: Office base at Seacroft, Leeds, with the opportunity for hybrid working

As a Senior Environmental Health Officer, you will play a vital role in protecting public health and improving the quality of life for people across Leeds. This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in delivering high-quality environmental health services in one of the UK's largest and most diverse cities.

Leeds City Council is one of the region's largest employers, with more than 14,000 colleagues working together to deliver outstanding services. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About You

We are looking for a passionate and motivated Environmental Health professional who can demonstrate:

A strong commitment to protecting and improving public health, food safety, and reducing health inequalities.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with businesses, communities, partner agencies, and colleagues.
Experience in food safety regulation, including inspections, approvals, complaint investigation, enforcement, and infectious disease control.
The ability to lead, develop and deliver projects, service improvements, and specialist workstreams.
The ability to supervise, mentor, support and develop Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers.
A proactive and adaptable approach, with the confidence to work independently and make informed decisions.

About the Role

Leeds is a thriving economic, legal and hospitality centre, home to thousands of food businesses ranging from independent enterprises to national and international operators. This diversity creates a challenging, varied and rewarding environment for Environmental Health professionals and offers excellent opportunities for career development.

Working closely with the Team Manager and fellow Senior Environmental Health Officers, you will take a leading role in the development and delivery of our Food and Health Service which includes food safety, infectious disease control, private water supplies, and animal health.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to broaden your experience while maintaining a specialist focus in food and public health. Alongside a varied portfolio of casework, you will have the opportunity to strengthen your leadership, supervisory and management skills, helping to shape the future of the service.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must:

Hold a recognised degree or diploma in Environmental Health.
Hold a Certificate of Registration from the Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB) or Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner (CEnvH) status.
Have recent and demonstrable experience in food safety regulation.
Meet the Food Standards Agency competency requirements relevant to the role.
Possess a thorough knowledge of environmental health and food safety legislation and its practical application.

Why Leeds?

This is an opportunity to make a real difference in a city that is ambitious, innovative and committed to improving health outcomes for all residents. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding role where you can influence public health, lead service improvements and support the development of others, we would love to hear from you.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
Car user allowance
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Paul Spandler, Environmental Health Manager. Call 0113 3786564 or email paul.spandler@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

To make a significant contribution to the delivery of environmental health services by a range of interventions including premises and business inspections, incident investigations, consultations and taking the appropriate follow up action including the use of formal enforcement procedures such as statutory notices, statements of evidence and the attendance at court as a witness.

To monitor service delivery standards including those delivered by third parties and to recommend and participate in service improvement and change programmes. To lead a specialist work area and deliver service provision for environmental and public health functions. To supervise and manage individuals on a day-to-day basis.

Responsibilities:

Deliver and oversee a range of complex environmental health activities including business inspections, incident notifications, license/approval inspections, complaint investigations and assessment of consultant reports. Assimilate complex and varied information to decide on statutory or non-statutory response to service requests and investigations, take forward appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution cases, in accordance with current legislation, council policy and best professional practice.
Provide expert guidance, in depth specialist knowledge and direction to colleagues within the service, the wider organisation and partners on a wide range of environmental and public health activities.
Responsible for direct supervision of Technical Officers and Senior Technical Officers/ Environmental Health Officers and student Environmental Health Officers, to include regular one to one meetings, appraisals, and workload reviews, providing appropriate feedback, allocation, checking and audits of work, co-ordination of training and development, and managing performance and attendance as appropriate.
Responsibility for training and mentoring of Environmental Health Officers, Senior Technical Officers, Technical Officers, student EHO’s and other persons as appropriate.
Assist in the effective management and procurement of resources to ensure quality, efficient and customer focused services are delivered.
Work collaboratively with colleagues from other teams and services to ensure broader outcomes are delivered e.g., to develop and participate in locality initiatives and programmes, undertake ‘joined up’ enforcement initiatives including with other agencies such as Police and Trading standards etc.
Develop and maintain thorough and current professional knowledge on environmental health functions and services; this to be achieved by various methods including peer group working, technical and professional development etc.
Lead on the development and implementation of service design and improvement activities in response to new legislative requirements, changes to service delivery methods and priorities etc.
Attend Court, Tribunals, or other formal and legal proceedings to give evidence as a professional witness.
Use specialist knowledge to prepare policies, service standards, reports, notices, and data as required.
Accountable for, and manage specific environmental and public health activities and work programmes including working with other services, Local Authorities, and partner organisations e.g., Environment Agency, HSE, FSA, DEFRA, UKHSA etc. To include leading on certain work areas as allocated and providing a strong link with partner agencies to undertake the allocated areas of work including producing external reports and statutory returns.
Maximise income by the production of financial reports and forecasts, ensuring accurate costing of services and the appropriate charging mechanisms are in place.
Attend various forums and meetings e.g. Area Committees, Licensing Committees, community meetings, Scrutiny Boards etc. to provide reports as required and to take on board stakeholder views and concerns. To represent the Service and the Council at partner and external meetings (local, regional, and nationally), giving expert advice, contributing to service and policy development, using specialist knowledge to speak on the Council’s behalf.
Ensure that the highest standards of customer service are provided and that customers are kept promptly and fully informed.
Ensure that relevant databases and information systems are kept accurately updated and reflect current work activities.
Contribute to the development of the service and adopt a ‘One Council’ approach.
Demonstrate the Council’s Values through behaviour and approach.
Deputise in the absence of the Team Manager commensurate to the grade of the post.
Communicate effectively with a wide range of people including colleagues within the service and across the council, internal/external partners, agencies, customers, and the general public dealing with all contact in a professional manner.
The postholder will work as part of a team but will also be required to work alone whilst fulfilling field or office-based tasks.
In certain circumstances, in the interests of operational efficiency, rota cycles can be varied subject to appropriate consultation and with reasonable notice.
A flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work outside of normal hours to respond to emergency situations on short notice is required.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
To participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications it is essential that the postholder is a suitably qualified Environmental Health Officer, Hold Certificate of Registration awarded by the Environmental Health Registration Board or Chartered EHP status.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Skills Required

Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Ability to contribute to service developments relevant to the post.
Ability to monitor performance effectively and achieve personal objectives and outcomes.
Ability to understand and implement regulations, policy, and legislation.
Ability to interpret, assess and comment on complex, specialist reports.
Ability to prepare accurate information / statistics for case files / activity reports, statutory returns, and financial reports.
Ability to prepare letters and e-mails for communication with customers.
Ability to investigate and assess the most appropriate course of action to resolve issues and prevent reoccurrences.
Ability to prepare case files for formal enforcement action including through to prosecution.
Ability to provide effective leadership and direction of individuals and on projects and issues relevant to the post.
Ability to manage and monitor team and individual performance effectively and set clear objectives.
Ability to develop and implement policies and strategies that put corporate vision and values into practice.
Ability to plan, manage, deliver, and evaluate projects that improve service quality and support a culture of excellence.
Ability to challenge and review systems to promote service improvement.
Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to resolve areas of potential conflict and to gain co-operation and trust.
Ability to make an effective contribution to internal/external working groups and meetings.
Ability to represent and speak on behalf of the Service and Council on relevant work areas.
Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust, and confidence.
Ability to manage a complex and varied workload and competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
IT skills sufficient to use Microsoft Office products (including email) and web-based applications.

Knowledge Required

Considerable depth of training, knowledge, and practical experience across a range of relevant technical and specialist areas.
Experience of working within a service area relevant to the post.
Understanding of local government priorities, and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
Substantial and detailed knowledge of environmental health, environmental protection and relevant public health work, legislation and best practice.
Good understanding of and commitment to equality issues in both employment and service delivery.
Good understanding of the diverse needs of the Service’s customers, and of involving them effectively in identifying areas for service improvement.
Understanding of senior officers’ responsibilities in terms of health and safety.
Suitably qualified Environmental Health Officer.
Hold Certificate of Registration awarded by the Environmental Health Registration Board or Chartered EHP status.

Experience Required

Of preparing case files for formal enforcement action including through to prosecution.
In depth experience of working within a service area relevant to the post.
Of reporting to and working effectively with a range of managers and staff.
Of advising and presenting to managers and others on relevant issues.
Of working effectively with others to manage projects.

Behavioural and other Characteristics required

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate

Knowledge Required

Understanding of and commitment to environmental sustainability in service delivery.
Of relevant specialist software applications.
Additional professional, graduate, or technical qualification.
Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
Current full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle.