Environmental Health Officer / Food & Safety Officer

Medway Council’s Food and Safety team is looking for an experienced and qualified Environmental Health Officer or Food & Safety Officer (0.68 FTE).

The Team carries out a broad spectrum of commercial Environmental Health functions through both enforcement and business advice. This includes food safety and food standards, health and safety, port health and infectious disease control work.

You will have a recognised degree in Environmental Health (or the Higher Certificate in Food Control) or equivalents and appropriate registration with the Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB).

You will also have a full driving licence and access to own transport for work purposes.

You will hold the broad range of skills needed to meet the requirements of the Food Law Code of Practice (England). You will have recent local authority experience in inspecting high risk food premises for food hygiene. Experience of food standards, health and safety, port health and infectious diseases would be desirable.

You will be able to demonstrate effective communication and negotiation skills; be able to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with people and be confident in all areas of regulatory enforcement. You will be capable of organising and prioritising your own work to meet challenging deadlines and you will operate in a self-sufficient manner.

Applicants should be able to provide evidence of continued professional and personal development relevant to the position.

We offer a flexi time scheme and essential car users allowance.

There will be opportunity to assist with other areas of work such as port health, health & safety, and communicable disease. This post offers a wide range of experience, challenges, and personal and professional development to the successful applicant.

We will consider job share applications and/or applications from recently qualified officers.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager please call David Brown, Environmental Health Manager on 01634 337336

Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. The salary you will be offered will be at level A. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.

When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.

The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:

Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.

Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.

Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.

We are seeking a Environmental Health Officer/Food & Safety Officer to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.