We are looking for candidates who has a degree or diploma in Environmental Health / Environmental Science or other relevant subject, with significant experience in a front-line team. A solid knowledge of food safety and health and safety legislation is essential as you will be the Lead Food Officer as required by the Food Standards Agency.

The salary for this position attracts 10% Market Supplement.

Job Description

You will have management responsibility for the Food Safety and Health and Safety Team to deliver a highly effective and professional service ensuring that the council’s statutory regulatory functions are being carried out and all legislative requirements are compiled with.

You will support and provide advice to council members, stakeholders, external agencies, officers and members of the public in respect of statutory obligations.

You will support a coordinated and proportionate approach to enforcement action across a range of functions in accordance with the council’s enforcement concordat.

You will ensure that the team’s workload is appropriately managed, and process and service improvements are identified and achieved

You will provide a customer focused service for internal and external customers which is focused on excellent delivery, service improvement and maximising efficiency

You will contribute to the delivery of an effective and focused Planning and Regulatory service for the council.

Responsibilities

Act as the Lead Officer for food as per the Food Law Code of Practice

Manage and authorise the day to day operation of the food safety and health and staff, including identifying training needs, recruitment, agreeing and setting targets, authorising absence requests, monitoring sickness and ensuring sufficient capability and capacity exists within the team. This includes enhancing the performance of the team through effective training, coaching and feedback. Recruit, train, coach and motivate new and established team members.

Provide advice and guidance on the interpretation of food safety procedures and regulations and ensure learning and data sharing is consistent and facilitated across the team/service

Working collaboratively with managers across the planning and regulatory service to deliver and monitor effective performance management, this includes ensuring internal performance data is available on workloads/backlogs/issues etc, meet quality and customer service standards and operate financial controls including income generation

Manage the workload and resources of the team, preparing team plans and managing staff and providing input to service plans and monitoring and forecasting information as required for management purposes

Act as a manager, working in conjunction with support staff, and others, to deliver and monitor effective performance, meet quality and customer service standards, and operate financial controls including income generation

To ensure the appropriate allocation and management of the work programme to ensure that performance is delivered to a high standard

The identification and delivery of service and process improvements to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of systems and customer service are enhanced

Ensure services are delivered in accordance with current legislation/codes of practice, council policies, service plans and service standards and that monitoring takes place to reduce customer complaints and avoidable contact and respond to/monitor complaints, MP/Member enquiries and FOI requests

Ensure that council's statutory obligations in respect to food safety, health and safety and other environmental health standards are effectively discharged and that appropriate and proportionate policies, processes and procedures are in place including inspection schedules and intervention programmes

Skills Required

Ability to manage/motivate a team of professionals and demonstrate successful team working

Ability to project manage workload and that of the team to initiate and deliver service improvement and to deliver projects on time/budget

Ability to take accurate notes and detailed observations under pressure

Ability to deliver effective and practice solutions to challenging problems and to persuade others to achieve goals/achieve agreed courses of action

Ability to develop and sustain strong and secure partnerships across the statutory, voluntary and private sector

Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and perform under pressure to meet service targets

Able to demonstrate an understanding of diversity and equality requirements around service delivery

Ability to assess hazards and to make judgements on risk to human health with reference to appropriate guidance and research

Excellent communication and organisational skills and to write clearly and plainly appropriate to the needs of the audience

Ability to understand and correctly apply and provide clear explanations of policies, give professional judgements of relevant legislation, codes of practice and government guidance and make clear and logical decisions

Good listening skills and the ability to respond to the diverse needs of others and to present information effectively to a diverse audience in a manner which is appropriate for the recipient. This includes communicating on sensitive issues to a range of stakeholders

Ability to deliver a high level of customer service and proactively look for ways to improve the customer experience

Ability to deal constructively with and manage confrontational situations

Good analytical skills with the ability to interrogate data and a creative approach to problem solving

Ability to “model” appropriate behaviours that encourage a culture of empowerment, initiative and transparency across the Council

Flexible, confident and self driven

Educational Requirements

Degree or equivalent professional qualification in one or more of the disciplines covered by the service

Membership of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Evidence of continuing professional development to maintain CPD as required by membership of relevant professional body

For more information please contact recruiting manager Vicki Hopps vickihopps@norwich.gov.uk

Why work for us

Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

To find out more about working and living in Norwich Home | Work in Norwich.

The council has a long and proud history of being a council that is keen to push the boundaries of what a district can achieve, to find out more about what it is like to work in local government visit Working in local government - #LocalGov Careers - Youth Employment UK

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

Equal Opportunities Policy

The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

Benefits

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees

In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas

Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support

Norwich City Council

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