Environmental Protection Officer (Reactive)

Buckinghamshire Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is recruiting an Environmental Protection Officer to investigate and enforce environmental health standards across the county. The role balances informal guidance with formal action, managing a caseload and collaborating with agencies to secure compliance and protect communities.

The post requires a relevant Environmental Health qualification, substantial protection experience, and the ability to conduct interviews, gather evidence, and handle sensitive issues.

Qualifications

• Diploma, Degree or MSc in Environmental Health or equivalent qualification and work experience.
• Substantial relevant experience in environmental protection, including noise and statutory nuisance.
• Expert knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, best practices, systems, policies, and procedures.
• Proven ability to conduct formal interviews, gather evidence, and deal with sensitive and contentious issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members, other departments, and external agencies to deliver a customer-focused service.
• A full driving licence and the ability to work flexibly within the service's core hours and on occasions outside of normal office hours.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations, undertake informal and formal action as appropriate.
• Manage a personal caseload of reactive environmental protection related work to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance with Council policies.
• Investigate requests for service related to noise and nuisance and take appropriate action in partnership with other agencies.
• Assess and respond to licensing and planning applications and attend relevant hearings and meetings.
• Provide specialist and technical input from an environmental protection perspective on large scale developments and projects taking place across the Buckinghamshire Council area.
• Opportunities to provide training and support to colleagues to maintain competencies in delivering regulatory interventions.

Skills

Investigations

Evidence gathering

Regulatory action

Stakeholder engagement

Driving licence

Education

Environmental Health degree

Job description

Location:

Overview

We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements. For the right candidate, job share and part-time working requests will be considered.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively neworganisation that combines the strengths and expertiseof the previousfive councils in the countytocreate positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to providestronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

About the role

As an Environmental Protection Officer, you will contribute to the Service’s objectives by undertaking investigations and activities to achieve regulatory compliance. Your work will range from providing informal advice to taking formal action and prosecution in accordance with Codes of Practices, guidance, and appropriate policies. Some of the key responsibilities include;

• Conduct investigations, undertake informal and formal action as appropriate
• Manage a personal caseload of reactive environmental protection related work to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance with Council policies.
• Investigate requests for service related to noise and nuisance and take appropriate action in partnership with other agencies.
• Assess and respond to licensing and planning applications and attend relevant hearings and meetings.
• Provide specialist and technical input from an environmental protection perspective on large scale developments and projects taking place across the Buckinghamshire Council area.
• Opportunities to provide training and support to colleagues to maintain competencies in delivering regulatory interventions.

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about protecting communities and the environment, and who enjoys a varied, hands-on role. You’ll be solution-focused, confident in your judgement and able to manage competing demands while building positive relationships, even in challenging situations.

The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

• Diploma, Degree or MSc in Environmental Health or equivalent qualification and work experience.
• Substantial relevant experience in environmental protection, including noise and statutory nuisance.
• Expert knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, best practices, systems, policies, and procedures.
• Proven ability to conduct formal interviews, gather evidence, and deal with sensitive and contentious issues.
• Ability to work collaboratively with team members, other departments, and external agencies to deliver a customer-focused service.
• A full driving licence and the ability to work flexibly within the service's core hours and on occasions outside of normal office hours.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

A full driving licence and use of a vehicle is required for this role, as is the ability to work flexibly within the service's core hours and outside of normal office hours to meet business need.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day.

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.