Senior Environmental Health Officer (Food)

Develop your career in one of London's most diverse and challenging food sectors

Ealing is home to thousands of food businesses ranging from independent retailers and restaurants to food manufacturers, importers, approved establishments and businesses operating within complex international supply chains. With a significant number of high risk premises and approved food establishments, Ealing offers a breadth of food safety work rarely found elsewhere in local government.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and ambitious Senior Environmental Health Officer (Food) to join our growing Food Safety Team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Food Safety Officer looking to broaden their technical expertise, work on complex and challenging cases, and develop specialist knowledge in areas such as approved premises, primary authority partnerships and food manufacturing.

The Role

As a Senior Environmental Health Officer (Food), you will undertake a leading technical role within the team, carrying out official food controls and other interventions across some of the borough's most complex and higher risk food businesses.

You will be responsible for:

• Undertaking programmed and non routine food hygiene and food standards inspections of medium and high risk premises.
• Acting as a technical specialist and subject matter expert in food safety.
• Investigating serious complaints, food poisoning incidents and complex service requests.
• Leading on work involving approved establishments, manufacturers and businesses undertaking specialist food processes.
• Delivering sampling exercises and participating in food recalls and withdrawals.
• Using enforcement powers where necessary, including the preparation of prosecution files and giving evidence in court.
• Providing advice and guidance to businesses, members of the public and colleagues.
• Supporting less experienced officers through mentoring, training and quality assurance.
• Working closely with partner agencies including the Food Standards Agency and other enforcement partners.

About You

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

• Degree in Environmental Health (or equivalent qualification) with EHRB/CIEH Registration and evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Practical and theoretical experience in Local Government regulation of Food Hygiene and Standards.
• Practical experience of carrying out high risk inspections and inspections of Approved food premises.
• Experience of enforcement, court proceedings and prosecutions.
• Experience of meeting performance targets.

You will also possess excellent communication skills, sound professional judgement and the ability to work independently while managing a varied and demanding workload.

Why Join Ealing?

This is an exciting time to join Ealing's Food Safety Team.

We actively encourage officers to develop specialist expertise, lead projects and gain experience across a wide range of food safety disciplines. Whether your interests lie in approved premises, food standards, manufacturing, intelligence led enforcement, sampling programmes or complex investigations, Ealing provides opportunities to broaden your experience and develop your career.

Working in Ealing offers:

• Exposure to one of London's most varied and technically challenging food sectors.
• Opportunities to work with approved establishments, manufacturers, importers and specialist food businesses.
• Involvement in complex investigations, food incidents and enforcement work.
• The opportunity to develop technical specialisms and build expertise in areas of interest.
• A supportive team environment that encourages innovation and new ways of working.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Generous annual leave entitlement and Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Access to extensive learning and development opportunities.

If you would like to make a positive difference to our residents and borough, then we're looking forward to hearing from you.

In your supporting statement, you need to provide examples of how you meet each of the criteria listed in the person specification section of the role profile. Please provide clear and specific examples. We do not accept CVs. Any applications received with a CV attached and without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Please note that this position is subject to Ealing Council's enhanced vetting process.

You must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.

Ealing Council is committed to creating good jobs and delivering on its connected communities agenda. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive.

We therefore welcome applications from all residents of the borough, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are entering the employment market in the early stages of their career and mid-career professionals, who are currently underrepresented in Ealing's workforce.

Please note all applications will be determined on merit.

Interested in a Short Term Contract?

In addition to our permanent vacancies, we are also interested in hearing from experienced Food Safety professionals seeking short term agency opportunities. If you would like to discuss short term contract work with Ealing Council, please contact kellys@ealing.gov.uk for an informal discussion

Closing date : Monday 12 October 2026

• Senior Food Safety Officer RP.pdf