Vape Compliance Officer

What will you be doing?

Kent County Council is seeking a proactive and motivated Vape Compliance Officer to support our commitment to protecting young people, improving public health, and ensuring retailers across Kent meet their legal responsibilities.

You will lead the operational and strategic delivery of vape compliance work across the county, tackling underage sales and removing illegal or non‑compliant products from the market. This full‑time position is externally funded (currently for 2 years) and requires vetting to work with young people.

What You will Be Doing

• Lead vape compliance operations in high‑risk areas, focusing on underage sales and illegal supply.
• Visit, advise and support retailers, checking age‑verification systems and participating in Challenge 25‑related activity.
• Enforce Trading Standards regulations by identifying, seizing and acting on illegal or non‑compliant products.
• Promote awareness and partnership working through guidance, media activity, and collaboration with agencies (including LVAP), supported by clear data and intelligence reporting.

About You

We are looking for someone who is confident working independently, effective in team settings, able to exercise sound judgement, and self‑assured when engaging with businesses and community partners.

Why Join Us?

This is a wide‑ranging, community‑impacting role where no two days are the same. You will join a supportive Trading Standards team in a position that contributes directly to safeguarding young people and improving health outcomes across Kent.

This is a fixed term full time contract (subject to external funding) for a period of two years.

The roles offer significant benefits including:

• Remote and flexible working,
• A commitment to continual professional development and training
• Support from the dedicated Consumer and Public Safety Team
• Exclusive staff discounts/cashback on a range of products and services through our Kent Rewards programme.
• Access to a range of KCC staff groups providing support and development opportunities to staff across our diverse workforce.
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support.
• 28 days annual leave rising to 30 after 5 years, plus bank holidays.
• The option to enrol in the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer matched contributions.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

About you

For further information, please contact:

Jim Whiddett - James.Whiddett@kent.gov.uk , 03000 412020

About us

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.