Senior Scientific Officer

London Borough of Barnet; London; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The London Borough of Barnet is seeking a Senior Scientific Officer to join their Scientific Services Team. This role involves delivering planning consultation services, investigating pollution control complaints, and providing guidance on environmental health matters. The ideal candidate will have expertise in air quality and acoustics, contributing to a healthier environment for Barnet residents.

Benefits

31 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays

Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme

Work-life balance options including hybrid working

Lifestyle discounts from major retailers

Broad range of payroll benefits

Excellent training and development opportunities

Employee well-being training programs

Qualifications

• Good understanding of air quality, acoustics, land contamination, or environmental permitting.
• Experience in investigating nuisance complaints.
• Knowledge of statutory nuisance.

Responsibilities

• Deliver planning consultation services and enforcement functions.
• Comment on planning applications and investigate pollution control complaints.
• Provide general pollution control advice and guidance.

Skills

Air Quality

Acoustics

Land Contamination

Environmental Permitting

Job description

Senior Scientific Officer

Job Identification: 685

Locations: 2 Bristol Avenue, London, NW9 4EW, GB

(Hybrid)

Job Schedule: Full time

Working Hours: 36

Salary range: Grade I £41,442 - £45,510

About Barnet Council

Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centers, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do.

About the Directorate

The Environmental Health - Consumer and Public Protection Service sits within the Assurance and Public Protection Directorate. We are committed to providing the very best services for residents, businesses, consumers and visitors.

We work in a modern, hybrid way recognising the importance of office attendance for key, in-person meetings and to collaborate with other colleagues, but with the flexibility needed to fulfil the role.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our hard-working Scientific Services Team, involved in both proactive and reactive work across Barnet.

We are at an exciting point in this journey following a recent reorganisation to bolster Environmental Health service delivery. There is a new structure in place, focused on a risk-based and proportionate approach to the delivery of Environmental Health services and our statutory functions. We are now looking for extraordinary colleagues to join our team and help us to continue to deliver an excellent service.

Join us in our mission to create a healthier and more pleasant environment for all residents of Barnet.

Please click here to download the Job description for this role.

About you

Scientific Services Officer

As a member of our Scientific Service team, you will be part of a small team that delivers a range of planning consultation services, enforcement and education functions.

The ideal candidate should have a good understanding of at least one for the following areas: Air Quality; Acoustics; Land Contamination; Environmental Permitting.

You should also have a working knowledge of Statutory Nuisance and experience with providing comments on planning applications; and investigating nuisance complaints from industrial and commercial sources.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience of Air Quality and/or Construction Noise (Control of Pollution Act sections 60&61)

As part of our team, you will benefit from a commitment to your professional and personal development. You will have the opportunity to work on a broad range of cases and projects, enabling you to develop your learning and experience.

This role involves a range of reactive, proactive and project-based work, including commenting on planning applications, responding to and investigating pollution control complaints and providing general pollution control advice and guidance.

What we offer

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, which provides a valuable guaranteed income in your retirement together with security for your dependents.
• Work-life balance options may include hybrid working, flexitime, job share, home working, part-time.
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more.
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership.
• Excellent training and development opportunities.
• Employee well- being training programs including confidential employee assistance.

How to apply

Read the job description and person specification before clicking ‘Apply’ to commence the online application form. Please ensure that you answer all questions and provide examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. If you would like any further information about the role before applying, please contact Ella Smallcombe at [e-mail]

Apply before 6 June 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Barnet Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Barnet operates stringent safer recruitment procedures.

To deliver Barnet Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity in the provision of services, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. As such we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

Barnet Council embraces all forms of flexible working (including part-time, compressed hours, and remote working) and is committed to offering employees a healthy work-life balance. Candidates are encouraged to talk about relevant requirements and preferences at interview. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

Barnet Council is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme; further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

All posts with the council are subject to a probationary period of six months, during which time you will be required to demonstrate to the council satisfaction your suitability for the position in which you will be employed.

Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient number of applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Please ensure you regularly check the email account (including JUNK MAIL folders) that you use to submit your application, as any further communication regarding your application will be sent electronically. Should you not hear from us within four working weeks of the closing date for this post, then regretfully in this instance, you have not been shortlisted.