Senior Environmental Health Officer

NORTH DEVON DISTRICT COUNCIL; Poltimore; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

North Devon District Council seeks an experienced Environmental Health Officer to lead the Private Sector Housing Team, aiming to improve housing conditions and enforce housing legislation across the district. The role supports regulatory and customer-facing work within Environmental Health.

You will inspect private housing including HMOs, advise owners, landlords and tenants on housing and public health matters, and provide specialist leadership.

Qualifications

• Development: attend meetings and training and maintain current professional knowledge
• Records: keep accurate, timely records
• Digital skills: confidence using databases, spreadsheets and multiple systems
• Judgement: strong problem-solving and decision-making
• Resilience: calm, effective management of competing priorities and deadlines
• Organisation: strong organisation and attention to detail
• Communication: excellent written and verbal skills
• Teamwork: ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Supervision: proven staff supervision experience
• Relevant experience: regulatory, compliance, customer service, administration or Environmental Health experience is desirable
• Legislative knowledge: knowledge of housing law and procedures, including the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Housing Act 2004 and Renters' Rights Act 2025
• Management and reporting: brief senior managers, prepare reports and undertake projects

Responsibilities

• Inspection and investigation: Inspect private housing, including HMOs, and investigate housing, nuisance and environmental complaints
• Specialist leadership: Lead in specialist areas
• Advice: Advise owners, landlords and tenants on housing and public health
• Licensing: Manage licensing for park homes, caravans and tented campsites
• Enforcement: Serve notices, prepare legal briefs and represent the Council in legal proceedings
• Supervision: Guide, mentor and supervise junior and trainee officers
• Partnership working: Work with regulators, emergency services and public health agencies

Skills

Communication skills

Digital literacy

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Teamwork & independence

Supervisory experience

Decision making

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Environmental Health Officer for a key leadership role. You will need excellent communication skills and enjoy varied customer, regulatory and business support work. A driving licence and access to a car are essential for inspections across North Devon.

About the team

Join our Private Sector Housing Team and help improve housing conditions. The team covers:

• Empty homes
• Energy efficiency
• Licensing of caravan sites, residential park homes and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs)
• Disabled Facilities Grants

The role

This rewarding role supports the Private Sector Housing Team and wider Environmental Health services, helping improve housing conditions and enforce the Renters' Rights Act. Responsibilities include:

• Inspection and investigation: Inspect private housing, including HMOs, and investigate housing, nuisance and environmental complaints
• Specialist leadership: Lead in specialist areas
• Advice: Advise owners, landlords and tenants on housing and public health
• Licensing: Manage licensing for park homes, caravans and tented campsites
• Enforcement: Serve notices, prepare legal briefs and represent the Council in legal proceedings
• Supervision: Guide, mentor and supervise junior and trainee officers
• Partnership working: Work with regulators, emergency services and public health agencies

What we are looking for

• Development: Attend relevant meetings and training and maintain current professional knowledge
• Records: Keep accurate, timely records
• Digital skills: Confidence using databases, spreadsheets and multiple systems
• Judgement: Strong problem-solving and decision-making
• Resilience: Calm, effective management of competing priorities and deadlines
• Organisation: Strong organisation and attention to detail
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal skills
• Teamwork: Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Supervision: Proven staff supervision experience
• Relevant experience: Regulatory, compliance, customer service, administration or Environmental Health experience is desirable
• Legislative knowledge: Knowledge of housing law and procedures, including the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, Housing Act 2004 and Renters' Rights Act 2025
• Management and reporting: Brief senior managers, prepare reports and undertake projects

Why join us?

North Devon offers an excellent quality of life, with a stunning coastline, vibrant communities and a thriving food and tourism economy. You will join a friendly team committed to better housing and legal compliance.