Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure food safety at Heathrow by examining imports and protecting public health.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Hillingdon, a key player in UK public health.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, generous holidays, and mental health support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in food safety while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Customer care experience and knowledge of food law are a plus.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
The London Borough of Hillingdon is home to London Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport for passenger and cargo movements. Based at the Cargo Terminal, you will play an essential role in ensuring that all statutory controls of food and feed are carried out to protect the health of the UK. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Technical Officer to join our Imported Food Team at London Heathrow Airport. You will be working alongside Official Veterinarians and Environmental Health Officers, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained in relation to the importation of food and feed. Your role will be to protect public and animal health at the border. On a day-to-day basis, you will be examining consignments containing a variety of foodstuffs to verify that they comply with import controls, in order to keep our borders safe.
Experience of providing good customer care will be essential, as you will be expected to provide advice and information to service users, other local authorities, and government departments such as the Food Standards Agency. We are looking for an individual who can hit the ground running, so a background in food law enforcement and knowledge of imported food controls would be advantageous.
Whilst you complete your training period (approximately 3 months), you will work 36 hours each week, Monday to Friday. Once training is completed, you will move onto one of the shift teams and receive the associated shift allowance (14%).
There are two shift teams, working the following pattern over a two-week period:
- Standard shift pattern
- Week 1: Monday & Tuesday: 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours with 30-minute break); Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: OFF; Saturday: 08:00 – 18:30 (10 hours); Sunday: 08:00 – 18:00 (9.5 hours)
- Week 2: Monday & Tuesday: OFF; Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours); Saturday & Sunday: OFF
- Evening shift (every 3rd or 4th rotation)
- Week 1: Monday & Tuesday: 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours); Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: OFF; Saturday: 12:00 – 22:30 (10 hours); Sunday: 12:30 – 22:30 (9 hours)
- Week 2: Monday & Tuesday: OFF; Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours); Saturday & Sunday: OFF
If you’re ready to take on a role that directly contributes to national food safety and public health, this opportunity offers an exceptional platform to develop your expertise within a world-class port health service.
We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development.
- Flexible Working Hours – We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life.
- 36 Hour Week – Enjoy a standard 36‑hour workweek for all full time staff.
- Generous Holiday Entitlement – increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles).
- Hillingdon Sports & Leisure – Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes – option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules).
- Cycle to Work – Eco‑friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
- Local Government Pension Scheme – access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union.
- Vivup Benefit – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24‑hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
- Travel Support – Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking.
At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly. The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities.
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a ‘per application’ basis. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject to the following pre‑employment screening:
- Basic DBS Check
- 2 years of Referencing
Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised. It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Technical Officer in Uxbridge employer: Hillingdon Council
Contact Detail:
Hillingdon Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Officer in Uxbridge
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research the London Borough of Hillingdon and their Imported Food Team. Understanding their values and mission will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events related to food safety and public health. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to food law enforcement and customer care. Think about real-life examples from your experience that demonstrate your skills and how you can contribute to keeping our borders safe.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Hillingdon and making a difference in public health.
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Officer in Uxbridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Technical Officer. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Customer Care Skills: Since good customer care is essential, share specific examples of how you've provided excellent service in the past. This will help us see how you can contribute to our team at the Cargo Terminal.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details and can process your application smoothly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Hillingdon Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on food law enforcement and imported food controls. Familiarise yourself with the relevant regulations and guidelines, as this will show your potential employer that you're serious about the role and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Customer Care Skills
Since you'll be providing advice to service users and local authorities, think of examples from your past experiences where you've delivered excellent customer care. Be prepared to discuss how you handled challenging situations and what you learned from them.
✨Understand the Shift Patterns
Get a good grasp of the shift patterns mentioned in the job description. Being able to discuss your flexibility and willingness to adapt to different shifts will demonstrate your commitment to the role and help you stand out.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the team dynamics, training process, or specific challenges the Imported Food Team faces. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
