Lead Environmental Health Officer - Food

The Food Safety Team plays a key role in protecting public health across Thurrock. We work with local businesses, residents and partner agencies to ensure food is safe, legal and produced to the highest standards. Our work includes food hygiene and standards inspections, complaint investigations, sampling programmes, infectious disease investigations and responding to food incidents. Based within Corporate Services, the team also delivers specialist import and export food controls, reflecting Thurrock's strategic location and proximity to major port facilities. This provides a varied and interesting workload across a wide range of food safety and regulatory activities. We are a supportive and professional team committed to high-quality service delivery, regulatory excellence and improving public health outcomes for our communities.

As a Lead Officer, you will provide professional leadership and operational management for the Food Safety Team, ensuring delivery of high-quality regulatory services that protect public health and support local businesses. You will lead on complex food safety matters and help shape and develop the service in line with local and national priorities.

• Lead and coordinate the delivery of the Council's food safety and infectious disease control functions.
• Manage and support officers undertaking inspections, investigations, sampling programmes and enforcement activities.
• Act as the lead officer for complex food complaints, food incidents and infectious disease investigations.
• Oversee import and export controls and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and statutory requirements.
• Contribute to service planning, performance management and the development of policies and procedures.

This role offers the chance to make a real difference by protecting public health, supporting safe and thriving local businesses, responding to emerging food safety risks and helping to shape a resilient and effective regulatory service for the community.

We're looking for someone who has:

• Extensive experience in food law enforcement, including food hygiene inspections and the application of food safety legislation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage confidently with businesses, members of the public, elected members and the courts.
• Strong organisational and decision-making skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently and lead on projects and enforcement initiatives.
• Specialist knowledge of food hygiene legislation, the Food Law Code of Practice, HACCP principles and associated enforcement procedures.
• Experience of interpreting and applying complex legislation and technical standards within a regulatory environment.
• A commitment to delivering high-quality public services and improving public health outcomes.

Essential Qualifications:

• Degree or Diploma in Environmental Health (or equivalent recognised qualification).
• Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB/EHORB) registration or equivalent professional recognition.
• At least two years' post-qualification experience in food law enforcement.
• Ability to meet the Food Standards Agency Code of Practice competency requirements for undertaking food hygiene inspections.

DBS Check: Basic level is required for this post.

Benefits of Working with Us

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 16th July 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 26th July 2026

Interview Date: 28th -30th July 2026

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact: Gareth Olive, Regulatory Manager | 01375 652110