Licensing Officer

Bidvane; Mid Sussex; Remote; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working arrangements

Generous pension scheme

26–31 days annual leave

Job summary

Mid Sussex District Council is seeking a Licensing Officer to join the licensing service, handling licensing administration and enforcement across alcohol, animal welfare, gambling, taxis, scrap metal and street trading.

The role is 37 hours a week with willingness to work outside regular hours, including hearings and inspections. You will advise stakeholders, investigate complaints and ensure compliance with licensing law.

Qualifications

• Recent experience applying licensing or similar legislation.
• Experience gathering and assessing evidence, and initiating enforcement action.
• Knowledge of general criminal law principles and enforcement practice.

Responsibilities

• Process and determine licence applications, advise applicants, licensees and stakeholders.
• Investigate complaints about licensed and unlicensed activity under legislation enforced by the Council.
• Check licensed premises, people and vehicles for compliance with legislation and licence conditions.
• Inspect premises following applications and recommend action to secure compliance.
• Take enforcement action to protect the public.
• Prepare reports for the Licensing Committee, attend meetings and present reports when required.
• Work with external agencies on joint operations.
• Keep up to date with licensing legislation and guidance.
• Recommend ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the service.

Skills

General criminal law

Organization

Written and oral communication

Independent and team work

Willingness to work outside hours

Job description

The Licensing Officer works in Mid Sussex District Council’s licensing service, handling the Council’s licensing administration and enforcement. The post processes applications, advises stakeholders, investigates complaints and takes action to secure compliance with licensing law. Its remit spans alcohol, animal welfare, gambling, taxis, scrap metal and street trading, with partnership work and attendance at hearings and site inspections. The role is 37 hours a week and requires willingness to work outside regular hours.

What the job involves

• Process and determine licence applications, and advise applicants, licensees and other stakeholders
• Investigate complaints about licensed and unlicensed activity under legislation enforced by the Council
• Check licensed premises, people and vehicles for compliance with legislation and licence conditions
• Inspect premises following applications and recommend or report on action needed to secure compliance
• Take appropriate enforcement action to protect the public
• Prepare reports for the Licensing Committee, attend meetings and present reports when required
• Work with external agencies, including on joint operations
• Keep up to date with licensing legislation and guidance
• Recommend ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service

Experience

• Recent experience applying licensing or similar legislation
• Experience gathering and assessing evidence, and preparing and initiating enforcement action

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of general criminal law principles and enforcement practice
• Good organisation and effective workload management
• Effective written and oral communication with councillors, officers and the public
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willingness to work outside regular hours for hearings, inspections, enforcement, joint operations and complaint investigations

What’s offered

• Agile working arrangements to support work-life balance
• Generous pension scheme
• 26–31 days of annual leave