Rights of Way Enforcement Officer

We are expanding our team.  Are you undertaking enforcement work? Have a great attention to detail?  Interested in delivering an excellent service? Yes? Then this could be the job for you.

Join our Rights of Way team at Staffordshire County Council and you will be part of a busy, friendly team and takes real pride in what it does and the services it provides.

We are seeking an individual with enforcement experience who is enthusiastic about contributing to a service that makes a real difference to protecting Public Rights of Way. You will need excellent communication skills, be methodical and have the ability to negotiate positive outcomes.

The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping and delivering this important area of work, will need to have a working knowledge of managing risk and be organised. You must hold a full UK driving license and be able to undertake site visits as needed.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a meaningful impact and be part of a team driving positive change, we would love to hear from you.

This is a fixed term role until 31st March 2028 

In this role you will:

• Investigate and respond to complaints and non-compliance issues on the Rights of Way network, recommending appropriate enforcement actions.
• Support the Team Leader in issuing legal notices and formal enforcement under relevant legislation within statutory timeframes.
• Engage with landowners, the public, and partner organisations to resolve enforcement matters through negotiation and consultation.
• Collaborate with other agencies on related issues (e.g. anti-social behaviour, dangerous animals), providing referrals and monitoring outcomes.
• Prepare case files, gather evidence, and maintain accurate records to support enforcement, prosecution, or public inquiries.
• Contribute to service reports, stakeholder communications, and the development of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan through research and analysis.

It is essential that you have:

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject (e.g. environment, law, geography) with knowledge of Public Rights of Way and enforcement.
• Experience handling enforcement cases, including serving legal notices and managing formal action.
• Good understanding of relevant legislation, Health & Safety, and risk management.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills, with experience resolving conflict and working with others.
• Well-organised with the ability to manage multiple cases and keep accurate records.
• Confident using IT systems including GIS, databases, and digital mapping tools.
• Driving licence with the ability to undertake regular site visits to rural locations where public transport may not be available (reasonable adjustments will be considered in line with Equality Act)
• Effective conflict management skills with the ability to confidently deal politely and effectively with confrontational situations in a calm and professional manner

 Interviews will be held on 2nd September 2026.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact: Della Burgess, Development Officer at:  della.burgess@staffordshire.gov.uk 

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, detailed below.

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too. 

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.