Port Health Manager - Technical Lead

Are you a dynamic leader with a passion for public health, compliance, and service innovation? As Port Health Manager you will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day delivery of port health controls at our inland border facility in Sevington.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a vital service at the intersection of public health, food safety, and border operations, ensuring compliance, driving performance, and contributing to the wider goals of the Council.

You will be leading on assigned business areas and collaborate with fellow managers to develop the service and its staff.

You will be responsible for leading the delivery of port health controls and ensuring operational compliance with DEFRA, FSA, and other regulatory bodies, along with:

Managing and developing staff through appraisals, performance reviews, and mentoring
Taking ownership of a specialist area such as enforcement, training, finance, or process improvement
Driving innovation and service development to enhance performance and generate income
Overseeing budgets, contracts, and reporting, ensuring transparency and efficiency
Representing the service at Cabinet, Committee, and stakeholder meetings
Responding to complaints, media enquiries, and Member requests

To excel in this role you it is important that you are a strategic thinker and experienced manager along with having:

A degree-level education and membership of a relevant professional body
Proven leadership in multidisciplinary settings
Strong technical, legal, financial, and commercial acumen
Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills

You will need to have a willingness to work unsociable hours and travel between Council locations as needed.

Experience in port health operations, political environments, or 24/7 service management is desirable, as are qualifications aligned with your chosen area of business leadership.

Click to view a Job Description

For an informal discussion about the role please contact, Anthony Baldock, Corporate Director of Health and Wellbeing on 01233 3308355

When Applying - Please ensure that you have received confirmation of a submitted application once completed. For any assistance in completing the application form, please email recruitment@ashford.gov.uk

Hybrid Working - We are an organisation that puts people first and understands how important employee wellbeing is. We want to help you to balance your working life and home life and offer flexible ways of working to help structure your life in a positive and productive way; both at home and in the office. This maximises personal development and collaborative working. Competitive remuneration package - We offer an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave with flexi time, free life insurance, supportive relocation package and opportunities for training and development.

With devolution news and talks evolving across the country for local authorities, we understand that there may be some uncertainty for those currently serving within the sector. Although Kent and Medway have not been included in the Devolution Priority Programme, discussions continue in this area. Kent, Medway and all District and Borough Councils in the South East will continue to work closely with each other to deliver vital services to our communities. This is an exciting, but stable time to join our organisation.

Ashford Borough Council recognises the need to ensure the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults when they come into contact with the services we provide

We welcome applications form the Armed Forces Community