Trading Standards Officer

Full Vacancy Description

We are looking for a Trading Standards Officer to join our southwest English Council on a 3–6-month initial contract that may be extended.

This role can be full time or part time.

Job Purpose including main duties and responsibilities:

The main purpose of the job is to promote and maintain a fair trading environment and to ensure that the legitimate interests of businesses and consumers are safeguarded. The job holder will undertake the enforcement of legislation as required by the Head of Trading Standards in accordance with statutory processes, service policies, standards, procedures and timescales.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Enforcement of a wide range of legislation administered by the Trading Standards Service.

Carry out visits to businesses for investigation and advice purposes

Respond to requests for business advice from traders.

Investigate complaints as required.

Deal with complex advice to businesses, resolving any issues to ensure compliance

Run a variety of projects within the service business plan, to successful conclusions

Where breaches of law are discovered the job holder will advise traders on how to rectify matters.

To maintain a working knowledge of the legislation enforced by the department and a deep knowledge in their working area

To lead in relation to a service area or areas, developing knowledge and driving work to achieve results

Maintain a record of inspections, complaints and enquiries received. Input and retrieve data from Service’s databases.

The Trading Standards Officer job descriptions at each level are generic in nature as cross-team working is required and officers can move teams. The main focus of an individual officer’s work activities will depend to some extent on the team in which they are placed at any particular time.

Person specification:

Experience

Have implemented legislation relevant to Trading Standards service delivery

Detailed knowledge of some specialist legislative areas

Understand and assess business practices and production processes

Quality Control, audit and investigative experience showing clear results

Ability to lead others in all of these areas

Have led, driven and developed work in one or more service areas

Practical Skills

Able to solve problems by devising creative solutions

Ability to travel between work areas

Excellent communication skills

Ability to assimilate quickly complex written, verbal or pictorial information

Ability to produce comprehensive & clear written or verbal reports on complex issues and to present information effectively

Personal Qualities

Ability to make high quality decisions that result in effective interventions and outcomes

Self motivated with good time management.

Ability to work under pressure and to set deadlines

Ability to work in confrontational situations

Capability to work unsociable hours as required by the needs of the service

Strategic Thinking

Working with a high degree of adaptability, autonomy and initiative to achieve tangible results both alone and by leading others

Ability to balance enforcement action with the practical difficulties experienced by business

Ability to measure the impact of action or inaction on the wider community

Technology / IT Skills

Competent in using Microsoft Office

Able to use specialist software as appropriate

To be able to use social media in a professional context

Education and Training

TS Practitioner Diploma or DCATS or DTS or DCA Parts 1&2 or equivalent professional qualifications