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What will you be doing?

Ready to take on a role that’s fast‑paced, hands‑on and right at the frontline of the UK border? Kent Trading Standards is looking for a motivated individual with an interest in practical, operational work to join our Imports Compliance Team. This is your chance to play a key role in protecting UK consumers by ensuring that goods entering the country are safe and compliant and suitable for use by the public.

As an Imports Compliance Officer, you will be involved in frontline activity at various port locations across Kent, working closely with partner agencies as part of the UK’s border controls.

If you thrive on challenge, enjoy problem‑solving and want a job where no two days are the same — this could be the perfect next step.

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What the Role Involves

This is a hands on, active role that includes regular physical work such as handling packages, opening consignments, and conducting product inspections. You will be required to work outdoors and in warehouse/port environments in all weather conditions, often at short notice, in order to meet service demands.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered to enable candidates with disabilities to carry out the duties of the role, in line with operational requirements.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assessing the compliance of imported products through documentary checks, test reports, research and hands-on physical inspections.

• Making decisions that directly affect whether goods can enter the United Kingdom.

• Managing a caseload and recording all decisions clearly, ensuring audit trails and management information are accurate.

• Issuing notices to refuse entry of unsafe or non compliant goods, and assisting with seizures and evidence collection where required.

• Liaising with importers, customs agents and partner agencies such as HMRC, Border Force, Port Health and the Office for Product Safety & Standards.

• Maintaining up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance and procedures.

• Supporting colleagues and contributing to the wider work of the Trading Standards Ports Team.

You’ll travel frequently between several Kent port locations, so a full driving licence is desirable

Who We’re looking for

Someone who wants more than a desk job — someone who enjoys real world, practical work and brings energy and curiosity to everything they do.

You’ll bring:

• Clear and effective communication skills, with the confidence to engage professionally with a wide range of people

• Strong attention to detail and an analytical, questioning approach to information and decisions

• The ability to work independently, while also contributing positively as part of a close‑working team

• Resilience and adaptability when working in a fast‑moving, operational environment

• Sound IT skills, including the ability to interrogate data, use databases and maintain accurate electronic records

• The ability to read, analyse and interpret complex information such as legislation, guidance, test reports, technical documents and commercial paperwork

• Level 2 English and Maths qualifications (or equivalent)

• Experience of working in roles involving compliance, assurance, inspection, enforcement, or auditing (desirable but not essential)

• An interest in, or understanding of, the law enforcement or regulatory environment, such as border controls, compliance, investigation, or public protection work (desirable but not essential)

• The ability to communicate effectively in a foreign language (desirable but not essential)

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 subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service and Police Vetting. The post holder will also be required to successfully complete a Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 2 prior to confirmation in the post.

Please refer to the Job Description while completing your application as candidates will be shortlisted based on how closely they match the criteria.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview, where as part of the interview process, you will be asked to deliver a short presentation (10 minutes). This task is designed to assess how you approach judgement based decision making, communication, and accountability. You are not expected to have knowledge or experience in Trading Standards law, product safety legislation, or customs processes.

Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 13th August 2026.

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

Kent County Council is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Reasonable adjustments will be made to support disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process.

If you want an active role where your decisions make a real impact at the border every single day, we’d love to hear from you.

About you

For further information on this role please contact hiring manager Mike Johnson on 03000 418663 or via email to michael.johnson@kent.gov.uk to find out more. Please provide your name, phone number and email address.

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.