Environmental Health Officer (Pollution)

Osborne Richardson; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

Osborne Richardson is seeking an experienced Environmental Enforcement Officer for an initial 3-month contract in Yorkshire. The role involves investigating waste-related offences, collecting evidence for prosecutions, and serving statutory notices.

You will conduct site visits, liaise with Police, Environment Agency and Local Authorities, and potentially work outside normal hours. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are required.

Qualifications

• Experience in waste regulation or environmental enforcement.
• Strong understanding of evidence gathering for statutory action.
• Knowledge of enforcement processes and legal proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Investigate offences and collect evidence for prosecutions.
• Issue notices including fixed penalties as an authorised officer.
• Attend court/hearings to give evidence and prepare prosecutions.
• Liaise with agencies and stakeholders to enforce environmental regulations.

Skills

Environmental enforcement

Evidence gathering

Regulatory compliance

Criminal investigation

Job description

Our client, a Local Authority in Yorkshire, is looking for an experienced Environmental Enforcement Officer to provide an effective environmental enforcement service on an initial 3-month contract. The role covers investigating service requests and allegations of offences, collecting and preparing evidence for prosecutions, and enforcing legislation relevant to environmental offences affecting the visible environment and quality of life - in particular waste crimes such as fly-tipping, littering, illegal waste treatment, storage and disposal, duty of care breaches, waste containment, nuisance and other environmental pollution incidents. You'll prepare, draft and serve notices (including fixed penalty notices) as an authorised officer, carry out visits to ensure compliance with statutory notices, and undertake seizure, sampling and retention of articles including hazardous materials such as asbestos.

The role also involves carrying out surveillance and monitoring of sites in accordance with RIPA requirements, acting as lead officer in the investigation and prosecution of offenders, and preparing written and oral evidence in support of legal proceedings, including attending court and tribunals to give evidence. You'll conduct PACE interviews with offenders and witnesses, contribute to educational awareness campaigns and targeted enforcement initiatives, and provide written and verbal guidance to members of the public, businesses, council members and contractors. You'll work largely on your own initiative, referring complex or sensitive issues to senior management, and liaise with a wide range of stakeholders including the Police, Environment Agency, elected members and other Local Authorities.

Candidates should have experience in an area related to waste regulation, Environmental Health, environmental enforcement or criminal investigation, with relevant enforcement experience, or alternatively have a minimum of 3 years' experience of regulatory, enforcement or legal systems. You'll need a strong understanding of evidence-gathering for statutory action and legal proceedings, sound knowledge of enforcement processes, and the ability to use IT systems to produce reports and documentation. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are required, along with a willingness to work outside normal hours occasionally and in situations involving potential conflict.

This role pays £50 per hour (Umbrella) on an initial 3-month contract, based in Yorkshire.