Food & Safety Officer

Huntress; Chatham; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Medway is seeking a motivated Food & Safety Officer for a temporary contract until March 2026. The role involves carrying out food inspections, managing a caseload, and working with businesses to improve standards. Candidates must hold an Environmental Health qualification and possess a full UK driving licence. Immediate start available, offering a salary of £40,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Essential experience in food standards and official controls.
• Confidence in producing accurate reports.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload independently.

Responsibilities

• Carry out food hygiene and food standards inspections.
• Produce high-quality inspection reports.
• Support food-borne illness investigations.

Skills

Food standards experience

Strong technical understanding of food hygiene legislation

Effective communication

Detail-oriented

Proactive approach

Education

Recognized Environmental Health qualification

Job description

Food & Safety Officer

Medway, Kent - £40,000

Temporary Contract (Guaranteed Until March 2026)

Full‑Time | Start Date: ASAP

Must Hold a Full UK Driving Licence

Our client, a forward‑thinking local authority in the Medway region, is seeking an experienced Food & Safety Officer to join their Environmental Health team on a temporary contract guaranteed until March 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional with strong food standards experience who enjoys working out in the field and making a real impact on local businesses and public health.

If you’re confident carrying out inspections, delivering official controls, and managing your own caseload, this role offers stability, strong team support, and immediate start availability.

The Role

• Carry out food hygiene and food standards inspections across a diverse range of premises.
• Conduct revisits, alternative interventions, sampling, complaint investigations, and enforcement work.
• Assess compliance and issue Food Hygiene Ratings (FHRS).
• Produce clear, high‑quality inspection reports, notices, and follow‑up documentation.
• Support food‑borne illness investigations and respond to complaints.
• Work proactively with businesses to improve standards and meet legislative requirements.
• Manage your own caseload to ensure statutory deadlines and service targets are met.

This role requires regular travel across the Medway area.

About You

• A recognised Environmental Health qualification or equivalent enabling competency for food hygiene and food standards inspections.
• Essential experience in food standards and official controls.
• Strong technical understanding of food hygiene legislation, HACCP, allergens, and enforcement work.
• Confidence in producing accurate reports and communicating effectively with business owners.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload independently.
• Detail‑focused, proactive, and professional approach.

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

If you are interested, please apply with your CV now!

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK.