Surrey County Council
Trading Standards Officer
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Starting Salary
The starting salary for this role is £34,660 per annum, based on working 36 hours per week. We welcome both full-time and part-time applications.
Contract Type
This is a 12-month fixed-term contract opportunity.
About the Role
Help shape the future of tenant protection in Buckinghamshire and Surrey!
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team at a pivotal time as we prepare for and implement new responsibilities arising from the Renters' Rights Act. The successful candidate will help shape our approach to this significant legislative change, working closely with local authority partners across Buckinghamshire and Surrey to ensure tenants are protected and businesses understand their responsibilities.
This role offers the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in an emerging area of consumer protection while contributing to wider Trading Standards priorities.
Our Offer to You
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary-related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
Responsibilities
We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Trading Standards Officer to support the delivery of Trading Standards functions while taking a lead role in the development of our response to the Renters' Rights Act.
Working alongside experienced officers, you will contribute to investigations, project work, intelligence gathering, and enforcement activity. You will also play a key role in developing and maintaining effective partnerships with colleagues across local government and other enforcement agencies.
A particular focus of this role will be:
- Acting as the Trading Standards Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for matters relating to the Renters' Rights Act.
- Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with housing, licensing, and environmental health teams across Buckinghamshire and Surrey.
- Supporting collaborative working arrangements through Local Government Reorganisation and into the future East Surrey and West Surrey authorities.
- Researching student accommodation provision and helping to develop educational resources relating to the Renters' Rights Act.
- Sharing best practice with partner organisations on enforcement approaches, powers of entry, seizure, and wider regulatory considerations.
- Monitoring developments relating to the proposed landlord register and identifying opportunities to support Trading Standards activity.
- Preparing reports, maintaining records, and supporting legal and enforcement processes where required.
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Shortlisting Criteria
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- Experience working within a regulatory, enforcement, compliance, consumer protection, or related environment.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build productive relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to interpret information and identify practical solutions.
- Experience of preparing reports and maintaining accurate records.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- The ability to work both independently and as part of a wider team.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
- Hold a Trading Standards qualification or demonstrate commensurate experience and knowledge of the broad scope of Trading Standards matters.
Requirements
A driving licence and access to a car are required. The role will require travel across Buckinghamshire and Surrey. The role supports agile working and the administrative base will be either at Woodhatch Place in Reigate or the Walton Street offices in Aylesbury.
Application Process
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
- Please describe your experience of working within a regulatory, enforcement, compliance, consumer protection, or similar environment. What was your role, and what outcomes did you achieve?
- This role requires building effective partnerships across a range of organisations. Please provide an example of how you have developed and maintained productive working relationships with colleagues, partners, or external stakeholders to achieve a shared objective.
- Please give an example of a piece of research, analysis, or investigation you have undertaken. How did you gather and interpret the information, and how did your findings inform decisions, actions, or improvements?
- This role involves managing competing priorities while maintaining accurate records and reports. Please describe a time when you had to balance multiple pieces of work simultaneously. How did you organise yourself, and what was the outcome?
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Before Applying
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Additional Information
This post is subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills, or any barriers to employment.
Please contact Ellen Whiteman by email at ellen.whiteman@surreycc.gov.uk.
Closing Date
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 31/08/2026, with interviews to follow.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
Our Commitment
We are a disability confident employer, which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.
Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
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