Environmental Protection Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title:                    Environmental Protection Officer

Main Purpose of the Job/Key Objectives:

Enforce a range of environmental health legislation including contaminated land, industrial/commercial emissions, air quality, noise, construction impacts and nuisance law.

•           Provide professional advice in accordance with the Council’s corporate objectives, statutory responsibilities and environmental policies.

•           To be a Technical specialist on contaminated land and air quality within the Borough.

•           Manage projects relating to contaminated land and air quality.

Job Context:

1.         The postholder reports to: Environmental Protection & Housing Divisional Manager

2.         The postholder does not have any line management responsibility.  

3.         The postholder will be required to take part in ‘out of hours’ activities as required, for which an extra payment will be made.

4.         The postholder is responsible for equipment and protective clothing available to assist in the duties of the post.

Experience

1.         Use of varied ICT tools such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook and GIS.

2.         Producing written documents to a high professional standard.

3.         Use of effective communication skills when dealing with varied parties such as colleagues, clients and business.

4.         Writing and interpreting reports, statistics, technical information and guidance to improve personal knowledge and the service delivery of the Council.

5.         Effectively managing both a proactive and reactive case load.

6.         Enforcing and promoting compliance with environmental health, environmental protection and nuisance legislation and good practice.

7.         Dealing with politically sensitive and contentious matters.

8.         Prosecuting breaches of environmental health, environmental protection and nuisance legislation including investigation, collecting evidence, case preparation and giving evidence in court.

Qualifications

1.         A degree or diploma (or equivalent) in environmental health or environmental protection.

2.         Membership of a relevant professional organisation.

Working conditions/circumstances

1.         Strong commitment to honesty and probity.

2.         Enthusiastic and motivated commitment to serving the community and protection of public health.

3.         A current full driving license.

4.         Physically able to carry out district work.

5.         Provision of a car for work use at all times.

6.         To demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Havering’s Equal Opportunities Policy in both service delivery to the community, in relationships with colleagues and in employment practices.

Key Accountabilities and Result Areas

Key Result Area       Expected End Result

To carry out inspections, sampling, investigations and other such duties to enforce environmental health, environmental protection, and nuisance law to achieve the objectives of the Service.    Ensure compliance with appropriate legislation.

To investigate complaints, both informally and formally, and give professional advice to complainants, commerce, industry and consultants.      Ensure agreed level of service is provided to clients and customer contact is dealt with in accordance with corporate targets.

Manage surveys and research related to the work of the Service producing necessary reports i.e. Land quality reports. Ensure implementation of relevant legislation is current and appropriate.

Review and implement procedures, strategies, policies and other documents to properly perform duties of the post. Ensure legal compliance with relevant legislation.

To be the technical specialist providing advice and training on contaminated land and air quality to colleagues, other professionals, businesses and members of the public in accordance with appropriate internal and external standards and guidance. Ensure legal compliance with relevant legislation.

Develop publicity material and promotion of the service on a range of environmental health, environmental protection and nuisance matters.         

Promote service and our priorities.

To liaise with officers within the Service and other departments of the Council, outside organisations, businesses and other persons in order to properly perform the duties of the post. Co-operative and constructive relationships are maintained whilst promoting the service and our priorities.

To represent the Council at internal meetings, meetings with external bodies, public meetings, working parties, consultants and regional/professional groups.            Promote service and ensure our priorities and interests are represented achieving the required outcomes for effective service delivery.

Be responsible for the use of computers and the maintenance of all the necessary records and administration in connection with the duties of the post.         Ensure audit trail for work completed is present.

Give evidence in quasi-legal proceedings and/or gather and give evidence in Court where appropriate, particularly relating to prosecutions and appeals to statutory notices.          

Ensure legal compliance with relevant legislation.

Ensure financial requirements for completing duties are met i.e. appropriate authority and paperwork completed.     EPH Divisional Manager has information to manage budget effectively.

Manage contractors when completing tasks, site investigations and projects.

Ensure agreed scope of works completed adequately and that appropriate measures are taken to ensure the tender/contract requirements are met.

Manage projects, including site investigations, as required for this post particularly for air quality and contaminated land.             

EPH Divisional Manager can implement strategic or one off projects to continue to provide the service required.

Review and implement tenders and contracts to complete relevant works relating to this post.  

Ensure compliance with procurement rules.

To respond to consultations from other council services and organisations providing professional & relevant advice i.e. recommending and discharging planning conditions, pre application meetings and Environment Agency Permitting. 

Promote service and ensure our priorities and interests are represented achieving the required outcomes for effective service delivery.

The post holder is to keep abreast of changes in legislation, policies, attitudes and technologies pertaining to this posts professional remit.         

Ensure legal compliance with relevant legislation.

The role will be working in a small team where they will be reviewing planning applications and discharging conditions for air quality or contaminated land, dealing with queries from business/public on these matters and managing projects relating to these areas.  It is a very varied, busy and dynamic role.  An example of projects include contaminated land investigation on former landfill site currently wit residential properties, air quality education in schools, air quality green infrastructure, air quality business engagement and freight intervention.  They will be expected to support officers doing general pollution and statutory nuisance work during a duty rotation which is monday-friday 9-5 every 4 weeks.