Food & Safety Officer

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

Job summary

A local authority in the Medway region is seeking an experienced Food & Safety Officer to carry out food hygiene and standards inspections. This full-time role offers a temporary contract guaranteed until March 2026, requiring strong food standards experience and a full UK driving licence. You will assess compliance, support food safety investigations, and produce clear reports. Immediate start is available.

Qualifications

• Essential experience in food standards and official controls.
• Strong technical understanding of food hygiene legislation, HACCP, allergens, and enforcement work.
• Ability to manage a varied caseload independently.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out food hygiene and food standards inspections across premises.
• Conducting revisits, sampling, and complaint investigations.
• Producing clear inspection reports and follow-up documentation.

Skills

Food standards experience

Report writing

Communication skills

Proactive approach

Education

Recognised Environmental Health qualification or equivalent

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

As a Food & Safety Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Carrying out food hygiene and food standards inspections across a diverse range of premises.
• Conducting revisits, alternative interventions, sampling, complaint investigations, and enforcement work.
• Assessing compliance and issuing Food Hygiene Ratings (FHRS).
• Producing clear, high-quality inspection reports, notices, and follow‑up documentation.
• Supporting food‑borne illness investigations and responding to complaints.
• Working proactively with businesses to improve standards and meet legislative requirements.
• Managing your own caseload to ensure statutory deadlines and service targets are met.
• This role requires regular travel across the Medway area.

About You

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate:

• 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.