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- Tasks: Lead efforts to combat illicit tobacco and underage sales while ensuring compliance.
- Company: Surrey County Council, dedicated to community welfare and fair trading.
- Benefits: Generous salary, flexible working, 26+ days holiday, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community by protecting vulnerable residents.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of legislation and excellent communication skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and a supportive work environment.
Reference: SCC/TP/399871/4267
Positions: 1
Salary: £36,873 per annum
Category: Trading Standards
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: 36 hours per week
Posted on: 11 December 2025
Closing date: 4 January 2026
Directorate: Chief Executive Office
Location: Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, Reigate, RH2 8EF
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
The starting salary for this role is £36,873 per annum for working 36 hours per week. We are hiring an Illicit Tobacco and Under Age Sales Officer to join our Trading Standards Team in Surrey, based at Woodhatch Place, Reigate. This role is open to remote working meaning you aren’t required in the office 5 days a week.
Our Offer to You:
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
- Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the Role:
Trading Standards protects individuals, communities and businesses from harm and financial loss and helps businesses to thrive by maintaining a fair trading environment. We enforce over 200 pieces of legislation and regulations and we are intelligence informed, helping us to determine what areas of work to focus on. The team helps to protect the most vulnerable residents within Buckinghamshire and Surrey by tackling fraudulent, illegal and unfair trading practices, with a particular focus on activities to disrupt criminal activity. We enable businesses to get the help and support they need to thrive and grow and work to improve regulatory compliance to ensure a level playing field. We improve wellbeing and public health through tackling the supply of unsafe, dangerous or age restricted products.
In this role you will devise and carry out interventions to contribute to the age restricted sales regime. This will include liaison with a variety of enforcement partners and organisations including public health, the police and His Majesty's Revenue & Customs. You will have responsibility for leading underage sales operations, conducting visits to businesses to assess their compliance in respect to the sales of illicit tobacco, vapes, knives and nitrous oxide. Additionally, you will investigate incidents of non-conformity.
Your Application:
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- An ability to understand, interpret and apply relevant legislation governing the work in this area
- An ability to provide statutory advice and guidance to businesses relating to illicit goods
- An ability to confidently engage in difficult and complex conversations with a variety of audiences
- Experience of de-escalating conflict and difficult situations
- A proven ability to manage your own priorities and workloads
- An ability to investigate non-conformities and to use a variety of databases and systems to record actions and outcomes appropriately
The role holder will need to have the willingness and ability to travel around the county to meet the demands of the role.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact Us:
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact David Bullen: david.bullen@surreycc.gov.uk
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 04/01/2026 with interviews to follow. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR):
Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales Officer in Reigate employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales Officer in Reigate
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Surrey County Council on LinkedIn or other platforms. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching common questions related to Trading Standards. Think about how your skills align with the role of an Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales Officer and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves engaging in complex conversations, consider doing mock interviews with friends or family to build your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, you’ll find all the resources you need to prepare yourself for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales Officer in Reigate
Some tips for your application 🫡
Read the Job Description Thoroughly: Before you start writing, give the job description a good read. It’s packed with info on what we’re looking for, so make sure you understand the key skills and responsibilities. This will help you tailor your application to show us you’re the right fit!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When you’re detailing your experience, focus on what’s relevant to the role of Illicit Tobacco and Underage Sales Officer. Highlight any past roles where you’ve dealt with legislation, compliance, or even conflict resolution. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your qualifications and experiences.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly. Plus, it shows us you’re keen and ready to join our team at Surrey County Council!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on the relevant legislation governing illicit tobacco and underage sales. Being able to discuss specific laws and how they apply to the role will show that you're serious about the position and understand the complexities involved.
✨Prepare for Tough Conversations
This role involves engaging in difficult discussions with various stakeholders. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated tough conversations or de-escalated conflicts. Practising these scenarios can help you feel more confident during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Investigative Skills
Be ready to talk about your experience with investigations and compliance checks. Prepare specific examples where you've identified non-conformities and how you approached resolving them. This will demonstrate your ability to manage priorities and workloads effectively.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Collaboration
Since this role requires liaising with various enforcement partners, be prepared to discuss your experience working in teams or collaborating with other organisations. Share examples of how you've built relationships and worked towards common goals, especially in a regulatory context.
