About the job Senior Environmental Health Officer - Food and H&S
Senior Environmental Health Officer – Food and Health & Safety
Temporary Contract
Job Details
Client: London Borough of Hackney
Job Reference: 140598
Department: Climate, Homes and Economy / Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation
Grade: PO2–PO4
Contract: Temporary
Dates: 21 October 2026 to 26 July 2027
PAYE rate: £25.79 per hour
Working Pattern and Location
Hackney, London. Field inspections and enforcement visits across the borough. Occasional evening, weekend or out-of-hours duties may be required depending on operational needs. Exact weekly hours to be confirmed.
Job Overview
The London Borough of Hackney seeks a Senior Environmental Health Officer for food safety and health and safety regulation. Undertake commercial premises inspections, investigate complaints and incidents, enforce environmental health legislation, prepare prosecution evidence and improve business compliance.
Important – Please Read Carefully
Appropriate Environmental Health qualification and recognised professional registration or competency are essential. Applicants should demonstrate relevant environmental health enforcement experience and the ability to manage complex cases independently.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct inspections of food and other commercial premises.
- Investigate food safety, health and safety, infectious disease and accident complaints.
- Plan targeted enforcement operations and support outbreak control.
- Advise businesses and residents on environmental health requirements.
- Prepare enforcement notices, prosecution reports, case evidence and witness statements.
- Take appropriate regulatory and legal action in accordance with legislation.
- Maintain inspection records and statutory reports.
- Support licensing-related regulatory duties where required.
- Lead complex investigations, projects and cross-service operations.
- Provide technical guidance to colleagues and support service improvements.
Essential Experience and Skills
- Appropriate EHRB- or REHIS-approved Environmental Health academic qualification (such as MSc, BSc Hons or Diploma).
- Recognised registration or accepted professional competence route to Registered Environmental Health Practitioner status.
- Experience inspecting premises and enforcing environmental health law.
- Strong knowledge of food safety and workplace health and safety legislation.
- Experience conducting investigations and preparing enforcement reports.
- Ability to handle complex cases and communicate with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain accurate records, work independently and follow legal processes.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable Experience
- Local authority food safety and health and safety enforcement.
- Infectious disease investigation and accident investigation.
- Complex prosecution work and court attendance.
- MCIEH or FCIEH membership; postgraduate Environmental Health qualification.
- Experience coaching junior officers or leading projects.
- Current driving licence.
Additional Information
Application closing date: 5 November 2026
Agency response date: 4 November 2026
Maximum agency submissions: 5
IR35: Inside, according to agency portal.
Driving compliance category: Listed by agency portal; check required documents before submitting.
Disclaimer
On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.
I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
Job Reference: 140598
Strict Screening Questions
- Do you hold an EHRB- or REHIS-approved Environmental Health qualification?
- Are you recognised as a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner through an accepted registration or competence route?
- Do you have recent environmental health enforcement experience in a UK local authority?
- Have you independently completed food safety inspections and enforcement activities?
- Have you investigated workplace health and safety complaints or accidents?
- Have you prepared enforcement notices, reports or prosecution case files?
- Can you undertake site visits throughout Hackney and occasional out-of-hours work?
- Can you demonstrate UK right to work and availability for this assignment?
Skills
Environmental Health, Food Safety, Food Hygiene Inspections, Workplace Health and Safety, Regulatory Enforcement, Accident Investigation, Infectious Disease Control, Prosecution Reports, Public Health, Environmental Health Legislation