Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

Make a real difference to public safety, fairness and community standards in Reading. We're looking for a confident and experienced enforcement professional to join our Licensing Team as a Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer. This is a key frontline role in safeguarding our community, ensuring compliance across a wide range of licensing functions - from taxi and private hire vehicles, to premises, gambling, events, and street trading.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role:
Licensing in Reading is a huge and varied area of work. We have a booming daytime and evening economy and all the associated challenges which that presents.

As a Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer, you'll take a lead role in ensuring compliance with licensing laws and protecting the public across a wide range of areas - including taxis and private hire vehicles, licensed premises, gambling, events, and street trading.

You'll conduct complex investigations, carry out inspections, respond to complaints, and take enforcement action where necessary, including preparing and presenting cases for committee hearings or legal proceedings. You'll also lead covert operations and collaborate with other enforcement agencies to tackle unlicensed or unlawful activity.

In addition to enforcement work, you'll play a key role in mentoring junior officers, shaping policies, and deputising for the Principal Licensing Enforcement Officer when needed. You'll work closely with councillors, licensees, residents and external stakeholders to provide expert advice, manage sensitive issues, and ensure that licensing conditions are upheld.

Your work will directly contribute to public safety, fair trading, and community well-being across Reading.

You would need to be able to demonstrate:

• good communication and inter-personal skills
• flexibility and willingness to work unsocial hours where needed
  willingness to work largely outdoors inspecting licences and enforcing on illegal activities
• comprehensive understanding and experience of taxi and private hire licensing legislation and practice including the preparation of legal proceedings
• comprehensive understanding and experience of alcohol and gambling legislation and practice including the preparation of legal proceedings
• ability to organise own workload and that of junior staff
  
  

Ideally you will be a practicing practitioner, holding PLPQ qualification and have some legal knowledge and experience and/or the ability to interpret legislation and statutory guidance would be an advantage.

You'll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees&© skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity

Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
  Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
  
  

To arrange a confidential discussion on this position please contact Clyde Masson - Principal Licensing Enforcement Officer - clyde.masson@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 27th July 2025
Interview Date: 14th and 15th August 2025

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible