Environmental Protection and Housing Senior Officer

The Role

As a Senior Environmental Protection & Housing Officer, you will lead complex investigations and enforcement activities relating to environmental protection, housing standards and public health. Using your professional expertise, you will deliver effective interventions that improve outcomes for residents while ensuring compliance with legislation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Investigating statutory nuisances, including noise, smoke, dust and light pollution.
• Tackling housing issues such as disrepair, HMOs, mobile homes and empty properties.
• Addressing public health, environmental pollution, air quality and contaminated land matters.
• Responding to planning and licensing consultations and representing the service at hearings and committees.
• Taking enforcement action, preparing prosecution and tribunal cases, and presenting evidence in court.
• Managing housing assistance, energy efficiency and other grant schemes.
• Developing policies, procedures and service improvements.
• Providing specialist advice to residents, businesses, Members and colleagues.
• Mentoring, coaching and supporting the development of officers, trainees and students.
• Supervising staff to ensure high-quality service delivery and professional development.

This role offers the opportunity to influence policy, improve local communities and contribute to the wider delivery of Environmental Health services across North Hertfordshire.

The Experience You Will Bring

We're looking for an experienced Environmental Health professional who is passionate about improving housing conditions, protecting public health and delivering high-quality services.

You will have:

• A degree, diploma or MSc in Environmental Health (or equivalent) and significant post-qualification experience.
• Extensive knowledge and experience across Environmental Protection and Housing.
• A strong understanding of Environmental Health legislation, enforcement practices and regulatory procedures.
• Experience conducting complex investigations, gathering evidence, serving statutory notices and preparing cases for prosecution or tribunal.
• The ability to interpret legislation, policies and guidance, applying sound professional judgement to achieve effective outcomes.
• Experience producing reports, policies, procedures and recommendations for senior managers, Members and committees.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters clearly and confidently.
• Experience mentoring, training and developing others.
• Supervisory or management capability, with the ability to support colleagues and achieve service objectives.
• The confidence and capability to deputise for senior managers when required.

This role operates within a career-graded scheme, providing opportunities for progression based on responsibility, experience, qualifications and performance.

You will also hold a full UK driving licence, have access to a vehicle for business use, and be willing to work occasional evenings or outside normal office hours when required.

Please note, the successful applicant for the above post will be background checked with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

About Us

North Hertfordshire is a large rural district with approximately 125,000 residents with four historic towns, Hitchin, Baldock, Royston and Letchworth Garden City. The Council have four priorities: Thriving Communities, Accessible Services, Responsible Growth and Sustainability. The Council Plan sets out our key priorities and themes for the next five years. The North Herts Values define how we as colleagues work with each other, and we strive to be: Adaptable, Inclusive, Learning, Listening, Together.

Why work with us?

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in our recruitment practices and in our employment policies. We want our employees to feel safe to express themselves and we encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of talents. We are dedicated to promoting a healthy work/life balance, valuing our employees, and enabling them to make a difference to the local community.

At North Herts Council we are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and we guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum requirements for the job.

Please note that all our vacancies require you to live and work in the UK, and selection interviews are face to face in our Letchworth offices or other nearby council sites.

We are changing
North Herts Council (NHC) is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by NHC on 1 April 2028, it is expected that the majority of roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.

LGR is one of the biggest changes in local government we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better.

To find out more, visit Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation | North Herts Council

If you would like an informal chat about the post, you can contact Lucy Tucker, Environmental Protection and Housing Manager on [phone removed]

Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Hybrid working:Flexibility with homeworking and office-based days.

Working pattern: This job is open to flexible working patterns and working hours

Closing Date: Midnight on 6th September 26

Interviews: Thursday 17th September 26