Environmental Protection Officer

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Environmental Protection Officer to join our Environmental Protection Team. This is a proactive frontline service which delivers a broad range of statutory duties for the benefit of those that live, work and visit North Somerset. Environmental Protection is one of the cornerstones of Environmental Health that is concerned with protecting the public's health from various threats in the environment. Poor health often results from poor environments and the work of the Environmental Protection Team makes a huge difference to the public's health and wellbeing. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying, investigating, and assessing concerns raised by members of the public about the environment in which they live, work or visit. It is our role to investigate their concerns and then work out the best approaches, within reason and using available tools and powers to tackle them. The postholder will work as part of a team dealing with statutory nuisance investigations (noise, smoke, dust and light issues), they will take part in environmental monitoring and sampling workstreams (soil air and water). The post-holder will also help investigate dog control and pest control matters and may also get involved in our Public Health Funeral casework.,

• To take responsibility for a caseload of service requests. This will primarily include the functions of statutory nuisance, dog and pest control investigations but may involve other areas of work such as environmental monitoring and sampling (soil air and water) and public health funeral work.
• To carry out pro-active and reactive visits to customer's properties.
• To provide information and advice to customers about technical and legal standards and processes they should follow.
• To establish & maintain appropriate links between customers, businesses and the general public and other services to ensure correct technical and legal standards are complied with
• To analyse and interpret data and information and make recommendations to support decision making by others for a broad range of activities across a service area.
• To communicate effectively with colleagues and customers, both verbally and in writing through the appropriate use of case or site notes and other records within information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.
• To take part in enforcement exercises with external agencies as required
• To work outside normal office hours, when necessary, for the effective performance of duties.
• To operate standard computer applications to produce well-presented and accurate records, presentations and reports. Use of databases and document management systems
Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role. Work Style At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated. This role falls into the category of Flexible Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:
• 2-3 days in the office per week
• Works both from home and the office, depending on the task at hand.
• Training is provided to help balance work-life and manage time effectively, with an emphasis on communication for team touchpoints and planning in-office days for collaboration.
  
  We are looking for an individual who is passionate about Environmental Protection and who possesses the following skills and experience, Qualified to Level 3 or 4 in a subject area relevant to environmental protection matters
• Knowledge of relevant legislation
• Significant practical work experience relevant to Environmental Protection
• Experience of working in a customer facing role
Desirable Criteria:
• Experience of working in local government
• Specialist experience in the use of sound level meters, basic acoustics or environmental sampling
  
  North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.
  
  At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.
We offer:
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes
Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet .