Environmental Health Technician / Officer (Air Quality)

Our Organisation-

Centrally located in the Thames Gateway, Gravesham Borough Council provides a range of services to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses

The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the northwest corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in southeast England.

Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves.

The role

We are looking for a motivated individual with a solution-focussed, ‘can-do’ attitude and excellent communication skills to join our busy Environmental Protection Team.

The successful candidate will enjoy a varied and interesting workload, both in and out of the office, with a focus on matters relating to air quality both in terms of Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) and in supporting the council’s climate change commitment towards net zero. 

They will also play a key role in supporting the wider work of the team including undertaking investigations/taking enforcement action in relation to noise nuisances, bonfires, smoke control and accumulations, etc. carrying out air quality and other environmental monitoring, and responding to planning & licensing consultations.

Whilst the ideal applicant will therefore have relevant prior knowledge and experience, we also welcome applications from enthusiastic individuals looking for a career in Environmental Protection who are willing to undertake relevant training.

This exciting post will involve travelling, generally within the Borough, for which a mileage rate is payable.  Candidates on POA grade (i.e. qualified and EHRB registered Environmental Health Officers) will also benefit from a leased car or cash alternative (included in above package).

The post holder must be able and willing to work remotely (e.g. from home) and will need to be able to work some flexible and unsociable hours including evenings and weekends on an ad-hoc basis to support/progress the casework of the team and wider service as may reasonably be required.

The council operates a Hybrid Working Policy where officers can work from home and attend the office on a minimum of two days per week depending on the needs of the service.  The successful candidate will however be expected to attend the office on a more frequent basis initially for onboarding.

Further details are contained in the accompanying Job Description, Person Specification and Salary Criteria.

Main responsibilities

Undertake a range of specialist tasks including:

1. Taking part in the council’s air quality monitoring in the borough
2. Assisting with the delivery of the council’s duties under Local Air Quality Management (LAQM)
3. Investigating and taking action to resolve or carry out enforcement action for matters such as nuisance, smoke control, etc.
4. To act as a key consultee in relation to planning and licensing applications, primarily in relation to air quality and other nuisances, e.g. noise, odour and artificial lighting.

Essential qualifications/experience

The successful candidate will have a good level of general education to ‘A’ level standard or equivalent by experience, and have excellent organisational, time management, communication, IT and people management skills with a solution-focussed, ‘can-do’ attitude.

You will be a team-player, but also a self-starter who is proactive in taking on work and able to suitably progress it under pressure with minimum supervision.

A full driving licence and own car are essential.

Desirable qualifications/experience

The ideal candidate will be experienced in Local Air Quality Management and air quality monitoring (or hold a suitable qualification in another relevant field (e.g. acoustics/noise control/environmental health/environmental sciences, etc.) and/or have relevant experience and knowledge; however prior experience/knowledge is not essential for the right person who is keen to learn and willing to undertake training as may be required.

In return we offer you:

Holiday entitlement

A generous holiday entitlement, plus paid bank holidays.

Training

In-house and external training including non-qualification, Continued Personal Development (CPD), NVQ and other qualification training.

Employee Assistance Programme

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a free and confidential support service, offering you unlimited access to advice and information as well as coaching and counselling where appropriate. 

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the service is there to help you manage all of life's events and support you through the challenges. Their expert advisers are there to help,

whenever you need them. Support on the telephone, online and face to face.

Pensions

A very secure pension scheme which both you and we pay into. More information can be found on the Local Government Pension Scheme website.

Occupational health

An on-site Occupational Health Advisor. We have an occupational health service provided by East Kent Hospitals University Foundation NHS Trust. The service is delivered by a team of health professionals who specialise in occupational medicine and deal with the relationship between your work and your health. Occupational Health also works with us to resolve any issues in the workplace and also to ensure that well-being at work is maintained.

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting managers, call Debbie Wilders or Mark Lees on 01474 337000.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Gravesham Borough Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.