Environmental Health Officer

BSNI are working with Belfast City Council to recruit a Environmental Health Officer. This role is temporary.

Job title
Environmental Health Officer – Facilities & Environment
Employment type
Temporary
Number of people required
1
Target start date
26 Aug 2026
Duration
12 Weeks

Hours per week
37

Rate
PAYE: £23.37 per hour

Job location
4-10 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8BP, United Kingdom#

Normal working hours available from 7.30am to 6.30pm with core hours 10-12 and 2-4.

Main purpose of job

Responsible through a Senior Environmental Health Officer (EHO) to an appropriate manager for the improvement of the health and quality of life of people in Belfast through the efficient and effective delivery of specific work activities allocated to the postholder.

Make an effective contribution to the development and achievement of the Environmental Health Service objectives and unit business plans.

Ensure that all duties and tasks assigned to the postholder are performed in accordance with specified time and quality targets.

Summary of responsibilities and personal duties

Carry out specified enforcement, investigative, educational and advisory duties associated with the responsibilities of any area of work to which the postholder is assigned.
Actively participate in and progress through a structured development programme to build the professional experience and competence.
Proactively liaise with other organisations (public, private, voluntary and community) to enhance the achievement of service and unit objectives.
Carry out project work as directed by the Principal Environmental Health Officer / Assistant City Protection Manager or Senior EHO.
Responsible for organising personal daily work demands to ensure that all relevant agreed targets are achieved to ensure that a quality, customer focused environmental health service is delivered.
Provide such reports, records and statistical information as required.
Keep himself or herself informed of all new developments within the area of work to which the postholder is currently assigned through a process of continuing professional development.
Proactively make suggestions for the improvement of work practices and services provided.
Participate as required in the training of students and other persons assigned to the unit for training purposes or work experience.
Occasionally work outside normal office hours and to provide occasional cover for out of hours services such as the night-time noise service as directed by the unit manager.
Motivate and manage any staff, that may be assigned to the post holder, to ensure effective service delivery and to be responsible for reviewing and implementing a proper staff training and development programme.
Participate in all induction and in-service training provided by Belfast City Council and in the induction and support of all newly appointed staff and other human resource management policies and procedures, as appropriate, including, absence management, disciplinary and grievance procedure.
Participate as directed in the council’s recruitment and selection procedures.
Act in accordance with the council and departmental policies and procedures including customer care, equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding and any pertinent legislation.
Undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the council.
Undertake such other relevant duties as may from time to time be required.
This job description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve.  Therefore, the post-holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description but which are commensurate with the role.

Essential criteria

Qualifications and driving licence

Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

possess a full, current driving licence which enables them to drive in Northern Ireland and have a car available for official business, or, access to a form of transport which will enable them to meet the requirements of the post in full[1].
hold a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Environmental Health which is approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, or a qualification acceptable to the Environmental Health Registration Board, that is, a Diploma in Environmental Health awarded by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), or a historical equivalent.
hold either a Certificate of Registration of the Environmental Health Officers’ Registration Board (EHORB) or be a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health – if not already registered with EHORB or CIEH as an EHP, the applicant must complete the registration process and any CIEH assessments required within 18 months of appointment to the post.
To be appointed to the EHO (Port Health) roles, be qualified as Official Fishery Inspectors (or must be prepared to undertake practical training and successfully complete the Food Standards Agency online course within three months of appointment);
Special skills and attributes

Applicants must be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples, evidence of the following special skills and attributes which may be tested at interview:

Communication skills: a good standard of literacy and written communication skills with the ability to produce reports and the ability to communicate effectively, particularly with members of the public and with business owners in a way which reflects their needs.

Technical knowledge: a good understanding of environmental health issues.

Work planning skills: the ability to manage and prioritise a workload, to undertake required tasks independently and work to the specific technical criteria and targets.

Team working skills: the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Decision making skills: an incisive and practical approach to decision making with the ability to know when to make decisions on their own and when to seek assistance from the senior or principal officer.

Customer care skills: an understanding of customer relations issues and customer care procedures.

Information technology skills: the ability to use standard office programmes and packages effectively, as well as the appropriate specialised programmes.

Shortlisting criteria

In addition to the above qualifications and driving licence, Belfast City Council reserves the right to short-list only those applicants who, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

in the first instance, already hold a Certificate of Registration awarded by the Environmental Health officers Registration Board or hold Registration with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health as a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner;
in the second instance, can demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one years’ relevant experience of working as an Environmental Health Officer or in a similar Environmental Health role; and
in the third instance, can demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least two years’ relevant experience of working as an Environmental Health Officer or in a similar Environmental Health role.
[1] Please be advised that this alternative is a ‘reasonable adjustment’ specifically for applicants with disabilities who, as a result of their disability, are unable t