Senior Scientific Officer or Senior Environmental Health Officer (Environmental Protection)

Make a Real Difference to Communities Across Mid Kent

Are you an experienced Environmental Health professional looking for your next challenge?

Mid Kent Environmental Health Partnership is seeking a talented and motivated Senior Environmental Health Officer or Senior Scientific Officer to join our Environmental Protection team. This is an exciting opportunity to take a lead role in protecting public health, improving environmental quality and helping shape thriving communities across Mid Kent.

No two days are the same. One day you could be investigating complex noise nuisance cases, reviewing major planning applications or appearing at a licensing hearing. The next, you might be providing technical leadership on contaminated land, air quality, environmental permitting, private water supplies or acoustics.

If you're passionate about environmental protection and enjoy combining technical expertise with practical problem-solving, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

As a senior member of the team, you'll play a key role in delivering the Council's environmental protection responsibilities, including:

• Investigating and resolving complex environmental nuisance complaints.
• Responding to public service requests relating to noise, odour, light and other environmental issues.
• Reviewing planning and licensing applications and providing specialist advice.
• Preparing evidence for legal proceedings and representing the Council when required.
• Supporting and mentoring junior officers, trainees and apprentices.
• Leading and developing one or more specialist service areas, including:
  • Acoustics
  • Air Quality
  • Environmental Permitting
  • Contaminated Land
  • Private Water Supplies
  • Statutory Nuisance

About You

We're looking for a confident and experienced professional who can combine technical expertise with excellent communication and leadership skills.

You will have:

• Relevant professional registration (where applicable).
• Significant experience within Environmental Protection.
• Strong knowledge of environmental health legislation and enforcement practices.
• Experience investigating complex nuisance and noise complaints.
• Experience supporting, mentoring or developing less experienced colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to make balanced decisions and manage a varied workload.

You'll be someone who enjoys building positive relationships, solving challenging problems and delivering excellent outcomes for residents, businesses and communities.

What we offer:

• Financial: An attractive basic salary within a clear pay structure. A starting salary of £51,038 increasing to £52,381 after one years service and increasing further to £53,724 upon completion of two years in post (subject to managerial approval).
• Holiday Entitlement: 26 days annual leave (increasing to 29 days after 5 years continuous Local Government service) plus three additional days in December and bank holidays.
• Pensions: Membership of the Local Government (CARE – Career Average (Revalued Earnings) Pension Scheme – Employer contribution of 19.7%.
• Free staff parking and an essential car user allowance of £1000 per annum (pro-rated for part time staff).
• Hybrid: The Council operates a hybrid working model with minimum 2 days working in the office.
• Access to HAPI an all‑in‑one benefits hub, giving you easy access to a wide range of employee perks, wellbeing support, discounts, and everyday savings.
• Personal Development: Invaluable training opportunities for continuing professional development. EMAQ training available.
• Employee Assistance Programme: The Council has partnered with Health Assured to provide staff with access to EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to assist in balancing everyday life with the requirement of work and home.
• To learn more about working at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, explore the kind of place we are, work that matters with people who care, and our pay, benefits, and hybrid working.

Equal Opportunities

Tunbridge Wells – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Safeguarding

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.