Somerset Council
Environmental Health Officer (Food & Safety)
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Closing date: 12 August 2026
Interview date: week commencing 14 September 2026
Salary: Grade 10 - £37,280 to £41,771 per annum, plus a recruitment allowance of £3,500 per annum until 5 July 2029.
Make a Difference in Food Safety and Health & Safety Across Somerset
Join Somerset Council's Food & Safety Team and help protect public health across one of the largest and most diverse local authority areas in the country, with responsibility for over 6,000 food businesses.
We're seeking an experienced Environmental Health Officer who is passionate about protecting the public and promoting high standards in food safety and health and safety. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives on varied and complex work, enjoys working independently and collaboratively, and is committed to improving standards and achieving positive outcomes for businesses and communities across Somerset.
By joining Somerset Council, you will be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team that values professional judgement, invests in your development and recognises the impact of your work across the county. This is your chance to build a rewarding career while helping to safeguard communities every day.
Role Summary
As an Environmental Health Officer, you will use your professional expertise in food safety and health and safety to help protect public health and ensure legal compliance across a wide range of businesses.
In this role, you will deliver essential regulatory services through inspections, investigations, monitoring and enforcement, working closely with businesses and partner organisations to identify risks and promote safe, compliant working environments.
This post is specifically aimed at experienced Environmental Health Professionals who can undertake the Council's statutory Food Safety and Health & Safety functions with minimal induction. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute immediately to the delivery of the Council's food inspection programme and wider regulatory enforcement activities and must be able to demonstrate recent experience of independently undertaking food hygiene inspections, official food controls, enforcement activities and complex casework.
Working across a large and diverse geographical area, you will undertake food hygiene inspections in a wide range of businesses, including approved premises, investigate food complaints, infectious disease notifications and outbreaks, and respond to Health & Safety complaints and RIDDOR notifications. You will be expected to manage high-risk and complex food safety and health and safety investigations and enforcement cases with minimal supervision and be capable of obtaining local authorisation shortly after appointment.
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Beyond frontline duties, you will play a key role in shaping and improving services, providing expert advice, managing complex cases and contributing to service priorities, policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.
Working collaboratively with colleagues and external partners, you will help ensure consistent, fair and proportionate regulatory outcomes, maintaining high standards of environmental health across Somerset. This is a role where your expertise truly makes a difference to businesses and the public every day.
What You'll Do – Key Responsibilities
- Deliver Food Safety and Health & Safety regulatory services through inspections, audits, investigations, interventions and enforcement activities.
- Deliver the Council's food inspection programme in accordance with Food Standards Agency requirements and relevant legislation, including other official food controls.
- Manage high-risk and complex food safety and health and safety investigations, interventions and enforcement cases with minimal supervision, including preparing reports, statutory notices and other enforcement documentation.
- Exercise delegated authority to determine and implement proportionate enforcement action, including formal action and prosecutions where appropriate.
- Collect, analyse and present evidence in accordance with legal requirements, including attendance at court, tribunals and inquests.
- Provide professional advice and guidance to businesses, members of the public, colleagues, elected members and other stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external agencies, partner organisations and regulatory bodies.
- Contribute to policy development, service improvement initiatives, monitoring programmes, and the training and support of colleagues.
- Maintain up-to-date professional knowledge to ensure compliance with legislative, technical and regulatory requirements.
What We're Looking For
Qualifications and Professional Requirements
- Degree-level qualification in Environmental Health (BSc (Hons), MSc or equivalent).
- Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB) registered (or equivalent), or eligible to obtain registration.
- Authorised under the Food Standards Agency Competency Framework, or able to demonstrate equivalent current competence and obtain local authorisation shortly after appointment.
- Full driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to travel effectively throughout Somerset.
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Knowledge And Experience
- Up-to-date knowledge of Environmental Health legislation, codes of practice and regulatory requirements, particularly in Food Safety and Health & Safety.
- Knowledge of PACE, RIPA, data protection principles, health inequalities and issues affecting vulnerable people.
- Recent experience of independently undertaking food hygiene inspections, interventions and other official food controls.
- Significant experience of food safety and health and safety enforcement, including investigations, statutory notices, formal enforcement action and complex case management.
- Comprehensive understanding of statutory enforcement powers and the application of professional judgement in regulatory decision-making.
- Ability to undertake Somerset Council's food inspection programme and contribute to Health & Safety regulatory functions immediately upon appointment.
Skills And Behaviours
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including report writing, presentations, negotiation and stakeholder engagement.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, elected members, businesses and other stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently, make sound decisions and manage competing priorities effectively.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to contribute to projects, service improvement initiatives and team objectives.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the ability to manage challenging and complex casework.
Additional Information
- 30 days' annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays.
- Full time (2 x 37 hours per week) and Part-time (1 x 22 hours per week) permanent roles available.
- Occasional evening and weekend working, including food hygiene inspections and festival work.
- Travel required across the county with a mix of office and site-based work.
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Emily Vining, Food & Safety Manager at emily.vining@somerset.gov.uk or Jo Toogood, Environmental Health & Licencing Manager at joanne.toogood@somerset.gov.uk
SCG1301 Environmental Health Officer.pdf
Job ref: 948/DT
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