Job Description

Number of Vacancies:

1

Time Type:

Full time

Worker Type:

Regular

Proposed Interview Date:

Monday, November 16, 2026

Hours of Work:

37

Hiring Manager:

Catherine Lunn

Contact Number:

01482 414549

Job Description Summary:

This is a full time, permanent position.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Principal Environmental Health Officer to lead our Statutory Nuisance service and play a key role in protecting public health and improving environmental quality across the city.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Environmental Health professional to lead a dedicated team, manage complex investigations, and help shape the future delivery of environmental protection services.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To provide and maintain a high level of professional expertise and advice in the management, organisation and operation of the Environmental Regulation Section’s statutory functions in relation to Statutory Nuisance, Licensing and Planning. To ensure that the relevant aims of the City Council are met, that the service and its decisions are fair, open and accountable, and to provide a high-quality front-line service to its customers.

To act as a member of the Environmental Regulation management team and contribute to the delivery of the Service Area Business Plan with specific responsibility for the actions of an Environmental Health Officer and four Environmental Protection Officers. This requires implementing corporate policies and procedures, being conversant with national policies and initiatives, developing teamwork plans and operational procedures, as well as managing staff performance.

To develop an annual work plan, identify priorities, set targets and monitor performance to ensure that programmes of work are delivered and that associated annual returns are produced on behalf of the Council for the relevant lead bodies including the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Ensure that suitable planning takes place to ensure adherence to targets on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis in order for the authority to meet its targets, balancing reactive and pro-active workloads to achieve this.

To undertake the supervision of Professional and Technical Officers to direct their work to achieve agreed targets and to undertake a personal caseload of the more complex cases, requiring a depth of experience and professional competence.

To take the lead role in ensuring officers are competent to exercise their statutory powers, that resources are allocated on the basis of risk and that any enforcement action is consistent with the requirements of the relevant lead body, legislation and Government guidance as appropriate

To provide a high level of knowledge and expertise in the areas of specialisation, especially in most complex enforcement and allied functions, and assist in the management of highly interactive client focused services.

Dealing with statutory nuisance, (particularly noise nuisance, but also smoke and odour) can often be challenging for the team in relation to both commercial and domestic sources of nuisance. Those suffering from the effects will often feel that their lives are very disrupted and are likely to be emotionally affected. For the person who is the perpetrator behaviour changes will be needed to maintain a positive outcome. Within the whole team, strong diplomatic skills are essential, as is empathy when dealing with distressed residents. However, the Principal Environmental Health Officer needs to have skills to negotiate the most challenging situations, which also often involve Members. This also applies to dealing with filthy and verminous properties.

For commercial situations, there can be a conflict between existing businesses and residents. Often solutions involve major investment so the Principal Environmental Health Officer will need to be fully accountable for informal advice given through negotiation and correspondence as well as for the formal action taken, which would eventually be resolved through court proceedings.

To contribute to and assist in policy formulation for the Service, by taking a lead responsibility on those policies and procedures relating to statutory nuisance, and other related legislation.

To contribute to and assist in policy formulation for the Service.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Strategy –

• To assist the Environmental Regulation Manager by developing and monitoring adherence to an annual work plan and by implementing and monitoring policies and work programmes to enable the performance of the Section to be managed against objectives. To take a lead role in the day-to-day work in areas of specialisation, a role which may also involve the management of Contractors and external specialists as well as external high-level stakeholders.
• To identify priorities to ensure that statutory services are undertaken in accordance with the relevant legislation and guidance such as that issued by DEFRA.
• To lead on the production and updates of policies and procedures in relation to the work of the Council’s team that investigates cases of statutory nuisance and regularly review enforcement procedures.
• To support the development of the departments Civica Cx system through supporting new ways of using technology to deliver functions of the Environmental Regulation Section.
• To be responsible for, and have the discretion to, initiate investigations to detect and rectify serious breaches of a wide range of legislation. To interview witnesses, take statements, collect, prepare and collate evidence correctly, thoroughly, professionally and in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and departmental procedures, to prepare prosecution reports and to act as a witness in court on behalf of the Council.
• To work in partnership with key contacts within the Council and externally, particularly City Safe, Housing, Planning, Adult Services and DEFRA.

1. Customer Focus -

• To conduct detailed inspections and audits at the highest risk business premises, to determine standards, secure improvements and ensure compliance with legal requirements, so as to safeguard the environment and public health, safety and welfare. Investigate the most complex service requests, officer identified contraventions, to identify breaches of legislation, non-compliance with statutory codes of practice, and risks to public health.
• To champion a quality, performance and customer focused culture to ensure that services are delivered effectively and in response to identified need. To produce accurate and timely correspondence, records, files and data, including the use of IT and the production of technical reports, to ensure the delivery of quality assured highly focused customer service. To inculcate the practices and processes throughout the team. To act as a lead in the development of corporate systems in use in order to make them as effective as possible in illustrating the contributions of the team to public health objectives. To carry out audits on information contained within the IT systems to ensure accuracy and relevance and to make sure they reflect the current status of premises and can be scrutinised by the relevant external authorities.
• To manage public requests for advice and reports of concern to ensure a timely and effective response and to ensure the provision of an evidence trail associated with interventions within the team which will allow a qualitative review of action undertaken. To receive feedback on the quality of the service provided, and to benchmark performance. To act on information to enable the team to meet its targets for customer satisfaction and to strive for continuous improvement. Must be able to deal effectively with complaints regarding the service and staff from various sources including the general public, elected members and MP’s
• Build and maintain working relationships with other service areas to ensure cross service complaints are dealt with in an effective manner within the Council as a whole and to ensure the provision of relevant and up to date information and professional guidance to all users of the service including Elected Members and the general public through direct contact and the preparation and submission of reports to committees.
• Assists the Environmental Regulation Manager in developing, implementing and monitoring section strategies, policies, procedures and programmes to ensure the Environmental Regulation Section and Public Protection Division benefits from experience and knowledge to serve its customers and provide service excellence and best value.
• To co-ordinate the development of a Communications and Marketing Plan for Public Protection in collaboration with representatives from other service areas. The target audience will include members of the public, businesses, schools, universities, colleges and other bodies. A range of media will be used including displays, seminars, campaigns, leaflets and use of all forms of electronic communications to raise awareness of the risks to public health and to bring about improvements to the environment and public safety. Prepare news releases and other information for the media, respond to media enquiries and ensure compliance with all corporate procedures.
• To negotiate suitable timescales, for the completion of requests, which may include making demands of central government agencies themselves and challenging the assumptions and decisions they have already made in order to provide a customer focused and balanced service for the residents of Hull. Work closely with the Principal Environmental Health Officers within other parts of the Division and colleagues elsewhere in the authority to deliver a cohesive service, this may involve, where necessary taking a lead role in communication for a number of services. This will involve strong influencing skills and interpersonal skills to achieve the desired outcome.

1. Performance Management -

• To ensure set standards are achieved and maintained. To take a lead role in monitoring and evaluating service delivery against individual and team targets, take corrective action to address underperformance, ensure the production of timely and accurate performance reports, maintain quality standards and achieve continuous improvement in service delivery.
• To mentor, train, guide and support less experienced Senior Environmental Health Officers, Environmental Health Officers, Graduate Environmental Health Officers, Technical Officers, and professional trainees, to contribute to their professional development and the development of the team.
• To recognise, communicate and mitigate risks to the delivery of performance standards. To achieve personal deadlines and targets to ensure compliance with the Service Delivery plan. To ensure that statutory returns in relation Statutory Nuisance are completed accurately and within specified deadlines.
• To conduct Personal Growth and Performance Review (PGPR) Interviews and 1-1 meetings for the purpose of setting and achieving targets and identifying development and training needs of Professional and Technical staff. Organise and provide training, guidance and support to Professional staff and Technical Officers and professional trainees to contribute to their development.
• To take a lead role in monitoring and evaluating service delivery against individual and team targets, take corrective action to address underperformance, ensure the production of timely and accurate performance reports, maintain quality standards and achieve continuous improvement in service delivery.

1. Leadership -

• To provide leadership, professional guidance and support to team members to achieve a motivated and effective team to ensure that staff operate in accordance with the defined policies, priorities and objectives of the Service, and to provide staff with guidance and direction in dealing with the most complex issues.
• In the most complex and high-profile cases, to lead, guide and support Senior Environmental Health Officers, Environmental Health Officers, Graduate Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers in the decision to make applications to the Magistrate’s Court for warrants, their execution, and the seizure, detention and confiscation of dangerous articles and substances to safeguard public health. To act as a professional lead during the assessment of other serious high profile/risk contraventions, providing support as necessary to Senior Environmental Health Officers, Environmental Health Officers, Graduate Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers.
• To participate in the Councils Standby and Call Back to Work Scheme. Separately from this, as a matter of course to be able to work flexibly to allow site visits to occur outside of normal working hours to meet the exigencies of the service.
• To ensure that the performance of staff and their continued professional development is regularly reviewed and is commensurate with their duties and powers that they are authorised to exercise on behalf of the Council. To assess the competency of staff to determine the level of authorisation provided and identify training and development needs to ensure the statutory requirements of the team can be discharged effectively.
• To identify the need for change whilst carrying out the operational implementation of current requirements, at an individual level and through the supervision of staff. To contribute to the planning associated with communicating action needed in response to changes in legislation (or other desirable behavioural change) and to take a primary lead in ensuring the businesses who must deliver these changes are both familiarised with the changes and can take the necessary practical steps to achieve them. Monitor the team to ensure consistency in implementation of changes.

1. Statutory Obligations -

• Represents the Directorate and City Council at meetings (internal and external) including Committees, working parties, Hearings and Court to provide an expert opinion and professional service.
• To lead, guide and support specialist professional and technical staff involved in the enforcement of statutory nuisance and associated work ensuring that legislation relating to these areas is correctly interpreted and applied updating our own internal policies and procedures as necessary to comply with current national legislation.
• To lead, guide and support Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers in the decision to take prosecutions for offences and to make applications to the Magistrate’s Court for warrants and take a lead role in the execution of warrants and any subsequent enforcement action such as arranging works in default and the preparation of prosecution files.
• To lead, guide and support specialist professional and technical staff who provide expert comment and recommendations to the Licensing Section and Planning Department relating to noise, odour, dust and other pollution issues on Licensing and Planning Applications they receive and to provide expert comment and recommendations on the most complex, sensitive and most potentially polluting applications.
• To develop and maintain effective working partnerships with internal departments, central government departments and other law enforcing bodies to ensure that there are good communications and to maximise the potential benefits of collaborative working.
• Must have a sound working knowledge of Regulatory Investigatory Powers Act, Freedom of Information Act, General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act.

NC4850.Principal Environmental Health Officer (Reactive Team).docx

Compensation Grades:

GRADES 11.

Pay Ranges:

£51,928.00 - £55,224.00

Job Classifications:

3- Not Politically Restricted - Designated As Not Politically Sensitive (Politically Restricted Posts), Essential 3A - It is essential for the postholder to have a current driving licence and to provide a car for work. (i.e. someone who did not meet these requirements could not be appointed to the post, since it would be impossible for the postholder to do the job without using a private car). These requirements would be essential criteria on the person specification for the post. (Travel Allowance Policy), No - (Childcare Disqualification Requirement), Post Fulfilling Statutory Duty - (Statutory Post)

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.

We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.

We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required.

The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.