Inspection and Enforcement Officer

Salary Range: SO2 – PO2 £37,602- £49,365 Permanent, Full Time

Location: Twickenham, Richmond

Field-based role working across the boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. A full valid UK driving licence is essential.

Objective of Role

Are you passionate about maintaining safe, accessible and well-managed public spaces? As an Inspection and Enforcement Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring Richmond and Wandsworth's highways and streets remain safe, compliant and fit for use by residents, businesses and visitors. You will carry out highway inspections, investigate offences, undertake enforcement activities and monitor utility works, helping to ensure that the boroughs' highways are maintained to a high standard and that legislation is applied fairly and consistently. Working within the Inspection and Enforcement Team, you will contribute directly to protecting the public realm, improving the local environment and supporting the delivery of high-quality services that make a visible difference to our communities.

About the Role

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines inspection, investigation, enforcement and stakeholder engagement responsibilities. Key duties include:

• Carrying out cyclical and reactive inspections of the public highway, identifying defects and arranging appropriate repairs.
• Monitoring highway maintenance and utility works to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards.
• Conducting inspections of licensed and unlicensed highway activities, including skips, scaffolding, hoardings, building materials and other highway occupations.
• Investigating highway-related offences and undertaking appropriate enforcement action, including the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices, Defect Notices and Penalty Charge Notices.
• Investigating abandoned vehicles, highway obstructions and unauthorised activities affecting the public highway.
• Preparing reports, witness statements and evidential documentation to support legal proceedings and enforcement action.
• Liaising with residents, Councillors, contractors, utility companies, enforcement partners, police and other local authorities.
• Attending court as the Council's witness where required.
• Responding to enquiries and complaints from members of the public and stakeholders.
• Undertaking specialist training and achieving professional accreditations relating to highways inspection and New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) compliance.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist inspection and enforcement expertise while supporting the delivery of essential public services.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of relevant legislation relating to highway inspections and enforcement, including the New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA), Traffic Management Act, Highways Act, Health and Safety legislation and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge.
• Experience of, or the ability to undertake, inspection and enforcement activities within a regulatory environment, applying procedures consistently and effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and communicate confidently, both verbally and in writing, with residents, Councillors, contractors, utility companies and partner organisations.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads, manage competing demands and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Good digital and IT skills, including experience using handheld devices and electronic systems to accurately record, retrieve and manage information.
• A full valid UK driving licence and the ability to travel throughout Richmond and Wandsworth to undertake inspections and enforcement duties.

Indicative Recruitment timeline

Closing Date: 31st July 2026
Shortlisting Date: W/C 3rd August 2026
Interview Date: W/C 17th August 2026

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.