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- Tasks: Ensure food safety at Heathrow by examining imports and maintaining health standards.
- Company: Join the London Borough of Hillingdon, a key player in public health.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, generous holidays, and discounts on leisure activities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national food safety while developing your expertise.
- Qualifications: Customer care experience and knowledge of food law preferred.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ 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
- 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.
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. Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success.
Benefits
- 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 – Discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough.
- Salary Sacrifice Schemes – options 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. Bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre.
- Local Government Pension Scheme – access to LGPS and membership to the Credit Union.
- Vivup Benefits – Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits.
- Mental Health Support and Counselling Services – 24-hour confidential advice and counselling, plus legal advice service for you and your immediate family.
- Travel Support – season ticket loans and free car parking.
Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role. 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 DBS checks and other pre-employment screening.
The post is subject to pre-employment screening including Basic DBS Check and 2 years of referencing. Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. The application window may close early if a high volume of applications is received.
Technical Officer employer: London Borough of Hillingdon
Contact Detail:
London Borough of Hillingdon Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food safety and public health sectors. Attend events, join online forums, and connect with people on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of food law enforcement and import controls. Be ready to discuss real-life scenarios where you’ve provided excellent customer care. Show them you can hit the ground running!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on roles that excite you! Use our website to find positions that match your skills and interests. Tailor your approach to each role, highlighting how you can contribute to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in food law enforcement and customer care. We want to see how your background aligns with the role of a Technical Officer at Heathrow!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills can contribute to public and animal health. Use examples from your past experiences that relate to the job description.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and ensure your key points stand out. This will help us quickly see why you’re a great fit!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you don’t miss any important updates about your application!
How to prepare for a job interview at London Borough of Hillingdon
✨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 understand the importance of public and animal health.
✨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 ready to discuss how you handled difficult situations or provided valuable information to others.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in real-life scenarios. Think about how you would handle specific situations related to food safety and compliance. Practising these responses can help you feel more confident during the interview.
✨Emphasise Your Teamwork Abilities
You'll be working alongside Official Veterinarians and Environmental Health Officers, so highlight your ability to work well in a team. Share examples of successful collaborations in your previous roles, demonstrating how you contribute to a positive team dynamic.
