Trading Standards Operation Manager

Staffordshire County Council; Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council's Trading Standards service is seeking an ambitious leader to provide strategic direction and operational leadership, ensuring statutory duties are met and frontline services remain effective.

Based in Stafford with flexible working options, the role focuses on intelligence-led regulation, safeguarding communities and supporting compliant businesses through high-performing teams and strong partnerships.

Qualifications

• A recognised Trading Standards qualification, such as the Diploma in Trading Standards, DCATS or an equivalent qualification.
• A management/leadership qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 4 or willing to work towards this.
• Substantial experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary professional teams, including performance management within a regulatory services environment.
• The ability to manage conflict, handle difficult situations and make sound, evidence-based decisions when problem-solving and delivering service improvement
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to translate priorities into clear and practical direction for staff.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and partnership-working skills, with the confidence to build effective relationships at all levels.
• A full current driving licence and the ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for a modern, intelligence‑led Trading Standards service aligned to Council priorities and focused on delivering measurable outcomes.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement through better use of data, technology, systems and processes to maximise impact and productivity.
• Protect communities by targeting resources at the highest risks, using intelligence‑led regulation to prevent harm, exploitation and financial loss.
• Lead and develop high‑performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous professional growth to deliver excellent services.
• Support economic growth and strong partnerships by helping compliant businesses thrive and working with local, regional and national partners to tackle complex issues.
• Ensure effective governance and public confidence through responsible resource management, lawful enforcement, statutory duties and advocacy for the value of Trading Standards.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Partnership-working

Interpersonal skills

Driving licence

Education

Diploma in Trading Standards

NVQ Level 4 management/leadership

Job description

Our Trading Standards service is dedicated to protecting consumers and businesses by promoting a safe and fair trading environment. We enforce regulations across a wide variety of legislation, aiming to prevent harm and financial loss to consumers by working with businesses to ensure compliance and fairness.

We are seeking an ambitious, professional, dynamic and motivated experienced leader to join our Trading Standards management team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in providing strategic direction and leadership for the Service.

You will be required to work effectively in partnership to influence others and will play a key role in shaping and delivering frontline services that keep people safe, protect vulnerable communities, and enable residents to thrive.

As Trading Standards Operations Manager, you will provide operational leadership for our countywide Trading Standards service, ensuring that we meet our statutory responsibilities and deliver effective, intelligence‑led and proportionate regulation. You will lead and support professional teams working to protect vulnerable residents, tackle offending, support compliant businesses and maintain a fair and sustainable trading environment.

You will also act as the Council’s Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures and play a central role in shaping service priorities, improving performance and strengthening partnership working.

You will be based in Stafford with the opportunity to work flexibly subject to business requirements.

Provide strategic leadership for a modern, intelligence‑led Trading Standards service aligned to Council priorities and focused on delivering measurable outcomes.

Drive innovation and continuous improvement through better use of data, technology, systems and processes to maximise impact and productivity.

Protect communities by targeting resources at the highest risks, using intelligence‑led regulation to prevent harm, exploitation and financial loss.

Lead and develop high‑performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous professional growth to deliver excellent services.

Support economic growth and strong partnerships by helping compliant businesses thrive and working with local, regional and national partners to tackle complex issues.

Ensure effective governance and public confidence through responsible resource management, lawful enforcement, statutory duties and advocacy for the value of Trading Standards.

The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be:

• A recognised Trading Standards qualification, such as the Diploma in Trading Standards, DCATS or an equivalent qualification.
• A management/leadership qualification equivalent to NVQ Level 4 or willing to work towards this.
• Substantial experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary professional teams, including performance management within a regulatory services environment.
• The ability to manage conflict, handle difficult situations and make sound, evidence‑based decisions when problem‑solving and delivering service improvement
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to translate priorities into clear and practical direction for staff.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation and partnership‑working skills, with the confidence to build effective relationships at all levels.
• A full current driving licence and the ability to meet the travel requirements of the role.

It would also be desirable if you have:

• Strong knowledge of national, regional and local government policy, including current issues and trends affecting Trading Standards.
• A sound understanding of quality‑assurance processes and their practical application within a service environment.
• The ability to interpret and implement complex legislation, policies and operational plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to different audiences.
• Experience of financial management, resource prioritisation and identifying opportunities to generate income.

If this sounds like a good match to your skills, we look forward to hearing from you. In return we can offer you an exciting and diverse role which is rewarded with a competitive salary and benefits package within the high performing and supportive Regulatory Services and Community Safety team.

Don't feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferrable skills, experiences, and qualifications so for an informal chat about the role, please contact: Mark Wilson, Head of Regulatory Services and Community Safety on 01782 279004 or email: [e-mail]

Interviews (In-person at SP1): Friday 16th October 2026

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

Please note: The minimum essential criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes.