Authorised Officer (Trading Standards)

West Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service (TSS) are seeking a talented and qualified Trading Standards Authorised Officer for this post. The TSS is a well-regarded, statutory service, strategically placed within the council with a key role of protecting local consumers and legitimate businesses, we are committed to developing services in response to community needs. We are dedicated to the ongoing professional development of our team and will provide you with a comprehensive induction and CPD programme and regular professional supervision. Our Trading Standards Service covers the geographical area to the south and west of Northamptonshire. Our office base is at the Guildhall in central Northampton and we encourage a balance of face to face and remote working. You will be provided with a laptop, phone and technology to support a flexible approach., You will be joining a team of Trading Standards Officers who are passionate about providing a safe and fair trading environment in West Northamptonshire. You will be responsible for the enforcement of the full range of Trading Standards legislation, including:

• Responding to complaints and enquiries
• Undertaking proactive work
• Sampling of goods and services
• Inspecting businesses
• Investigating alleged offences
  
  This is a varied and interesting role where you will deal with consumers, businesses, and other enforcement agencies in a wide variety of situations. You will be highly motivated, have a positive attitude and the ability to work flexibly according to the needs of the service. You will also have great communication and organisational skills to enable you to work effectively.
  
  At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.
Our vision is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what it's like to work at West Northants Council https://youtu.be/lV0EfeUF4aU We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:
• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or are a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working - We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.