Environmental Health Officer or Senior / Technical Officer - Environmental Protection East Team

We are offering a 12-month secondment opportunity within the Environmental Protection (East) Team as either an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) or Senior Technical Officer, depending on qualifications, experience and competency level. This is an excellent opportunity for officers looking to broaden their experience within Environmental Protection and further develop their investigative, enforcement and regulatory skills.

The successful candidate will primarily be responsible for managing a caseload of statutory nuisance investigations, including complaints relating to noise, smoke, odour and other environmental nuisances. A significant proportion of the role involves investigating complaints from receipt through to resolution, gathering and assessing evidence, advising residents and businesses, negotiating practical solutions and, where necessary, taking formal enforcement action.

In addition to statutory nuisance work, the post holder will contribute to the wider Environmental Protection service, undertaking work relating to planning consultations, pest control, air quality, contaminated land, environmental permitting, and other Environmental Protection functions as required by the service.

Whilst this secondment is intended to provide development opportunities, and appropriate training and support will be provided, the successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of a caseload relatively quickly. Applicants who can demonstrate relevant experience and an ability to hit the ground running are therefore likely to be well placed for the role.

We are particularly interested in hearing from colleagues who:

• Have experience managing environmental, regulatory or enforcement casework.
• Are confident investigating complaints and reaching evidence-based decisions.
• Demonstrate strong communication, organisational and customer service skills.
• Can work independently whilst also contributing positively as part of a team.
• Are able to manage competing workloads and priorities effectively.
• Can demonstrate an interest in environmental protection and public health issues.
• Are confident communicating with residents, businesses, partners and elected members.

Particular emphasis will be placed on Essential Criteria during the shortlisting process. Applicants should therefore ensure their application / supporting statement includes specific examples demonstrating how they meet these criteria and how their qualifications, experience, investigative abilities, enforcement experience and analytical skills are relevant to the role applied for.

 Applications are welcomed from officers who meet the requirements for either the Environmental Health Officer or Senior / Technical Officer role, and appointment will be made to the appropriate position based on qualifications, experience and competency.

 If you would like to be considered, please submit a Supporting Statement (no more than two sides of A4 or approximately 800 words outlining:

• Your relevant experience and skills.
• Clear examples demonstrating how you meet Essential Criteria.
• Your experience of investigations, enforcement and case management.
• What you would bring to the Environmental Protection Team.
• How the opportunity would support your professional development. 

Informal discussions regarding the role are welcomed, contact Darren Naraine on [email protected]

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.