Enforcement Officer (Licensing)

Why Southwark?

Southwark is a dynamic, forward-thinking borough at the heart of London. As the largest social landlord in the capital, we manage 55,000 homes and support a population that is young, diverse, and full of potential. Our business community is thriving, with over 18,300 enterprises, including iconic venues and innovative start-ups.
We’re committed to delivering fairer outcomes for all, and our work is shaped by Southwark Stands Together – our commitment to tackling inequality, racism, and injustice. Our refreshed Borough Plan places our communities at the centre of decision-making, ensuring Southwark continues to be a place where everyone can thrive.
Join us and be part of a council that is proud of its ambition, connected to its residents, and driven by purpose.

What You'll Be Doing

We have an exciting opportunity for a Enforcement Officer to join our Licensing Team, supporting the delivery of a safe, fair, and well-regulated borough.
Reporting to the Principal Enforcement Officer – Licensing, you will play a key role in the administration and enforcement of a broad range of licensing legislation. This includes the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, and taxi and private hire licensing.

Your work will include:
• Assessing and processing licence applications
• Conducting compliance checks and inspections
• Leading enforcement operations, including occasional out-of-hours work
• Investigating potential offences and preparing prosecution reports
• Presenting evidence at court and licensing hearings

This is a varied and high-profile role that will see you work closely with residents, businesses, partner agencies, and colleagues across the council.

What We're Looking For

We’re seeking a confident and experienced licensing professional with strong knowledge of the legislation and a proactive, hands-on approach to enforcement.

You will have:
• Proven experience administering and issuing licences across multiple regimes
• A solid understanding of licensing legislation and enforcement procedures
• Strong investigative and inspection skills
• Experience preparing legal reports and giving evidence in court
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work with people at all levels and handle challenging situations effectively

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a regulatory environment and is passionate about public protection, fair licensing, and working in a diverse and fast-paced London borough.

Additional Information

Closing date: Sunday 10 August 2025

Interviews: W/c 25 August 2025

Guaranteed Interview Scheme:

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together programme. We particularly welcome applications from members of the Black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.