Environmental Health Professionals - Food & Safety

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking dedicated Environmental Health professionals for various roles, including Environmental Health Officer and Food Safety Officer. Successful candidates will play pivotal roles in ensuring food safety and health compliance within the borough, engaging with local businesses and residents alike. The positions offer competitive salaries and a supportive environment fostering professional growth, with additional benefits such as flexible working arrangements and extensive holiday entitlement.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Payment of professional subscription fee

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Relocation and Accommodation Allowance Scheme

Qualifications

• Hold a Degree or Diploma from a CIEH-accredited course.
• EHRB Certificate or CIEH registration required for Senior/Environmental Health Officer.
• Demonstrated competencies in line with Food Law Code of Practice.

Responsibilities

• Carry out inspections and manage infectious disease notifications.
• Provide expert advice to local businesses.
• Take enforcement actions and contribute to high-profile safety initiatives.

Skills

Enforcement

Inspection

Advice

Education

Degree or Diploma in Environmental Health

EHRB Certificate

Higher Certificate in Food Premises Control

Job description

Are you an experienced Environmental Health professional looking for a dynamic and varied role? Join our dedicated team, where you'll play a key part in enforcing food safety, food standards, and health and safety legislation within the Reading Borough.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you'll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle. We would expect you to work from or be based in the office in Reading at least 1 day a week. Plus be within commutable distance of Reading due to the requirement for site visits.

About the Role:
Senior Environmental Health Officer: RG6m - RG7b £41,511 - £45,718 Per year

Environmental Health Officer: RG5 - RG6b £32,654 - £40,476 Per year

Environmental Health Graduate: RG4m £31,067 - £32,654 Per year

Senior Food Safety Officer: RG6b - £37,983 - £40,476 Per year

Food Safety Officer: RG4m - RG5m £31,067 - £37,938 Per year

'We may be small geographically but we more than make up for it in heart, enthusiasm and Team Reading spirit'
You'll carry out inspections, investigate complaints and accidents, manage infectious disease notifications, and provide expert advice to both local businesses and consumers.

With responsibility for your own caseload, you'll take appropriate enforcement actions and contribute to high-profile initiatives such as safety work at Reading Festival. Some out-of-hours work is required, for which additional payment is provided.

To be considered for this role, you should hold a Degree or Diploma from a CIEH-accredited Environmental Health course and an EHRB (or CIEH professional registration) Certificate if applying as a Senior or Environmental Health Officer.

Alternatively, for the Senior/Food Safety Officer role, we will consider candidates with a Higher Certificate in Food Premises Control or Food Control, a relevant Degree or Diploma, or an Authorised Professional Competency (APC).

You must be able to demonstrate the necessary competencies in line with the Food Law Code of Practice and maintain up-to-date continuing professional development (CPD).

A full driving licence is desirable, and recent experience in food safety enforcement within a Local Authority setting is preferred.

We offer excellent support, training, and induction. You will have access to our Learning and Development programme and be supported in your career and personal growth with opportunities to learn and develop new skills.

When applying for this post, please ensure that your application explains, with examples, how you meet the person specification in the Job Description as this is the shortlisting criteria.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Payment of professional subscription fee
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
• Relocation and Accommodation Allowance Scheme available (subject to restrictions).

If you would like any more information, please contact Katie Heath - Principal Environmental Health Officer at [e-mail]
Closing Date: Sunday 6 th July 2025
Interview Date: W/C 14 th July 2025

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.