Technical Officer

London Borough of Hillingdon; Greater London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Hours

36 Hour Week

Generous Holiday Entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work

Perkbox Benefits

Job summary

The London Borough of Hillingdon invites applications for a Technical Officer to join the Imported Food Team at London Heathrow Airport. You will work with Official Veterinarians and Environmental Health Officers to ensure import controls on food and feed protect public health at the border.

You will inspect consignments to verify compliance, provide advice to service users and other authorities, and contribute to safeguarding animal health.

Qualifications

• Experience of providing good customer care to service users and agencies.
• Background in food law enforcement and knowledge of imported food controls would be advantageous.
• Ability to work with Official Veterinarians and Environmental Health Officers.

Responsibilities

• Examine consignments to verify compliance with import controls.
• Provide information and advice to stakeholders including other local authorities and government departments.
• Work with the Imported Food Team to protect public and animal health at the border.

Skills

Customer care

Food safety

Imported food controls

Job description

The London Borough of Hillingdon is home to London Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport for passenger and cargo movements. Based at the Cargo Terminal, you will play an essential role in ensuring that all statutory controls of food and feed are carried out to protect the health of the UK.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Technical Officer to join our Imported Food Team at London Heathrow Airport. You will be working alongside Official Veterinarians and Environmental Health Officers, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained in relation to the importation of food and feed.

Your role will be to protect public and animal health at the border. On a day-to-day basis, you will be examining consignments containing a variety of foodstuffs to verify that they comply with import controls, in order to keep our borders safe.

About you

Experience of providing good customer care will be essential, as you will be expected to provide advice and information to service users, other local authorities, and government departments such as the Food Standards Agency.

We are looking for an individual who can hit the ground running, so a background in food law enforcement and knowledge of imported food controls would be advantageous.

Training and working hours

Whilst you complete your training period (approximately 3 months), you will work 36 hours each week, Monday to Friday.

Once training is completed, you will move onto one of the shift teams and receive the associated shift allowance (14%).

Standard shift pattern

Week 1:

• Monday & Tuesday: 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours with 30-minute break)
• Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: OFF
• Saturday: 08:00 – 18:30 (10 hours)
• Sunday: 08:00 – 18:00 (9.5 hours)

Week 2:

• Monday & Tuesday: OFF
• Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours)
• Saturday & Sunday: OFF

Evening shift (every 3rd or 4th rotation)

Week 1:

• Monday & Tuesday: 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours)
• Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: OFF
• Saturday: 12:00 – 22:30 (10 hours)
• Sunday: 12:30 – 22:30 (9 hours)

Week 2:

• Monday & Tuesday: OFF
• Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours)
• Saturday & Sunday: OFF

About us

We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
• 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
• Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
• Cycle to Work – Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
• Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
• Perkbox Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Perkbox Benefits.
• Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
• Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
• Trade Union Membership – The Council recognises UNISON, Unite, AEP and GMB and supports employees’ freedom of choice in relation to trade union membership.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly.

The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.

Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.

Recruitment Information

Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre-employment screening:

• Basic/ Standard/ Enhanced DBS Check
• 2 years of Referencing

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.