Job Title
Principal Environmental Health Officer – Residential Housing (West Berkshire Council)
About The Role
We are seeking an Environmental Health Practitioner to manage the EH Housing team under the Strategic Manager, providing direction for the service. Housing is a top priority area; you will lead the team to ensure residents have safe housing and support implementation of the Renters Rights Act.
Key Responsibilities
- Inspect private rented sector properties, respond to tenant complaints, draw up schedules of condition and disrepair, and take formal action as necessary
- Inspect and license HMOs in line with current legislation
- Inspect caravan sites – licensed and unlicensed
- Conduct proactive inspections of commercial-to-residential conversions
- Enforce the Renters Rights Act
- Directly and indirectly manage a team of professional EH Housing officers
- Prepare and present reports for internal and external bodies
- Maintain a watching brief on local, regional and national policy and legislative developments
- Support the Strategic Management Team to deliver strong performance against operational objectives
- Motivate, monitor, mentor, train and develop staff to maintain an efficient and effective team
- Lead officers through enforcement cases
- Ensure processes and procedures are up to date and audited
Qualifications, Skills & Attributes
- Certificate of Registration from the Environmental Health Registration Board or the CIEH Professional Register
- Proven track record in inspection and enforcement of EH Housing
- Experience of managing people
- Valid driving licence and access to a car for work
Benefits
- Professional and personal development opportunities
- Generous leave entitlement (29 days per annum plus public holidays, rising by 5 days after 5 years)
- Flexible working between 07:00–19:00; hybrid working with 40% office time
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Death‑in‑service benefit
- Family‑friendly policies
- Range of local discounts
- Wellbeing programme including Employee Assistance Programme
Working Pattern & Conditions
- Permanent contract, full time
- 37 hours per week
- Location: West Berkshire Council (PPP) – Theale or Bracknell
- Salary: £45,091 to £53,460 per annum (Grade K)
- DBS Check: Enhanced
- Option to offer fewer hours provided role requirements are met
Equal Opportunities
The Council supports Equal Opportunity of employment and positively encourages applications from people who fall within any of the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. This role has been identified as public facing; competence in spoken English is required.
