Environmental Health Officer (Private Sector Housing)

East Suffolk Council, Lowestoft NR33 0EQ or Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1RT

Environmental Health Officer (Private Sector Housing)

£29,269 - £45,441 per annum

37 hours per week, Full time

Permanent

Closing date: 12 September 2024

Reference: 16344

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Private Sector Housing Team as an Environmental Health Officer / Environmental Health Technical Officer. 

Your role

We are a dynamic, forward thinking and friendly team based along the beautiful East Coast from Lowestoft to Felixstowe. Despite the idyllic location we have some significant urban housing challenges and rural poverty issues. We are looking for someone who wants to join us to create better housing conditions across our district and shares our drive and ambition to make a difference.

Are you a motivated team player who can be adaptable, able to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve real improvements in the quality of homes in East Suffolk?

Working in our core Private Sector Housing team, alongside multiple project teams including Safe Suffolk Renters - a government funded initiative looking at delivering private sector housing solutions differently - you will work in both an educational and regulatory capacity to help improve the quality of the housing in East Suffolk, dealing with some a range of housing issues, using the wide range of statutory powers available to us. 

You will have, or you will gain:

• experience identifying and remedying housing disrepair using a vast legislative toolkit
• take enforcement action which ranges from informal advice through to court or tribunal hearings
• identify and address compliance issues with houses in multiple occupation
• support residents who hoard by working collaboratively
• provide much needed grant funding to provide property improvements and deal with other housing-related issues such as rats, rubbish and more.

You will be able to work under pressure, be able to work pro-actively with other council teams and external agencies and be able to interpret legislation to provide guidance to residents and landlords in the sector.

What you will need:

For Environmental Health Technical Officer you will:

• understand building construction, with experience (or an understanding) of working in a regulatory role
• have experience working for a local authority, construction industry or other government role would be an advantage
• have a minimum of a level 3 qualification (A Level) or a similar equivalent.

Additionally, for Environmental Health Officer you will:

• have a relevant degree in Environmental Health and have either started or completed your professional Environmental Health or Housing Health Practitioner registration.

For either level, you will require your own car and a valid UK driving licence.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
• Local government pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Please see our benefits brochure for further information.

The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were successful, please contact the recruiting manager listed below. 

Please read the job description and person specification before applying for this job.

To find out more

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact: from 22 - 30 August Sarah Allison (Operational Lead) on (01394) 444644 or from 02 - 12 September Vicky Cotterill (Team Leader) on (01502) 523160.

How to apply:

To apply, please complete the online application and upload your supporting statement on our website at: https://www.suffolkjobsdirect.org/#en/sites/CX_6001/job/16344

Closing date: 11.30 am, 12 September 2024.

Interview date: w/c 23 September 2024.

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.