Senior Port Health Officer

We offer:
14% Shift allowance, salary-linked pension scheme and generous holiday entitlement.

About us: A Border Control facility has been set up in Ashford on the Sevington site, near junction 10A of the M20. This site provides the customs and transit checks required for hauliers imported food checks to ensure that goods comply with the statutory duties to safeguard public health.

We are recruiting staff to conduct Official Controls – and be responsible for carrying out checks on imports of products of animal origin and high-risk food not of animal origin, in order to ensure that only products that are safe to eat enter the food chain and protect against bio security threats.

The Role: Reporting to the Principal Port Health Officer you will be responsible for undertaking a range of statutory duties to safeguard public health. Conducting Official Controls you will be carrying out checks on imports of products of animal origin and high risk food not of animal origin in order to ensure that only products that are safe to eat enter the food chain.

In addition you will direct the work and activities of the Technical Officer, and Technical Assistant.

Who are we looking for? It is essential that you have suitable qualification(s) to undertake import controls at Border Control Posts as defined by the FSA Food Law Code of Practice and Practice Guidance (normally MSc, Degree or Diploma in Environmental Health plus Certificate of Registration with the Environmental Health Registration Board EHRB (CIEH)), along with having:

Evidence of continual professional development
Enforcement experience relevant to food control work
Strong skills and knowledge relevant to food control, health and safety, and public health functions
The ability to interpret and analyse legislation, statutory guidance, technical updates and good practice
Competency in IT systems including email, word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentation software
Willingness and ability to work a shift pattern over 24 hours/7 days per week/365 days per year

As an employee of Ashford Borough Council you will have the opportunity to work with other environmental health professionals across the organisation to broaden your experience.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Marie Connolly on 0300 0424557

Click to view Shift Patten

Click to view aJob Description - When completing your application, ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the essential requirements. Applications that only address desirable criteria, or do not provide sufficient evidence against the essential criteria, will not progress to the next stage.

We can offer VISA certificates of sponsorship for this role. Please contact recruitment@ashford.gov.uk for more information.

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

Visit the jobs page of our website www.ashford.gov.uk/jobs

We offer a competitive remuneration package, an excellent salary linked pension scheme, generous annual leave, free life insurance, supportive relocation package and opportunities for training and development.

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 from the Armed Forces Community