Environmental Health Officer – Facilities & Environment

BSNI are working with Belfast City Council to recruit a Environmental Health Officer – Facilities & Environment. This role is temporary.

Number of people required
2

Target start date
24 Nov 2025

Duration
12 Weeks

Hours per week
37

Rate
PAYE: £23.37 per hour

Job location
Port Health Unit, 5 Corry Place, Belfast, BT3 9HY, United Kingdom

These posts are for the Port and involves day and night shift working (rotating 2 weeks on days, 2 weeks on nights, 12 hour shifts) as per the Port health shift pattern attached as a document below.

Main purpose of job

Responsible through a Senior Environmental Health Officer (EHO) to a relevant manager for the improvement of the health and quality of life of people in Belfast through the efficient and effective delivery of specific work activities allocated to the postholder.

Make an effective contribution to the development and achievement of Departmental, service and unit business plans and objectives.

Ensure that all duties and tasks assigned to the postholder are performed in accordance with specified time and quality targets.

Summary of responsibilities and personal duties

Carry out the full range of enforcement, investigative, educational and advisory duties in implementing and enforcing the provisions of all Environmental Health and allied legislation, or dealing with complaints, associated with the responsibilities of any area of work to which the postholder is assigned, in accordance with the relevant work programmes and as required by the relevant manager.
Carry out inspections and investigations, assessing physical, environmental and health conditions within premises, buildings, land, vehicles, vessels and aircraft as required, complete risk assessments and risk ratings for premises, products and processes and work activities to determine the level of compliance with relevant technical standards and statutory provisions, and determine the appropriate actions.
Review and critically assess complex technical reports, plans, drawings and correspondence, liaising with internal and external technical experts, identifying appropropriate recommendations and drafting reports and responses on behalf of the Council as required.
Conduct sampling and complaint investigations as required, undertaking all necessary administration and use of IT systems for the duties of the post.
Make decisions as authorised officers of the Council, determining the most appropriate course of legal or non-statutory action, in line with the Council’s Regulation and Enforcement Policy, and to make recommendations as necessary. Conduct interviews under PACE Caution, prepare and serve legal notices, prepare prosecution cases and attend court and other hearings/tribunals/public enquiries/appeals as required to present evidence and support the Council’s legal representatives.
Identify the educational needs of the community relevant to Environmental Health services, and devise, organise and participate in health education and promotion activities, and devise media releases when appropriate.
Liaise and work in partnership with other organisations (public, private, voluntary and community), providing technical Environmental Health expertise as required, to enhance the achievement of service and unit objectives.
Liaise with elected representatives and respond to Member enquiries and requests relating to the postholders area of work as required.
Deal with and respond to Freedom of Information requests, Environmental Information Requests, and Data Subject Access Requests as required in accordance with Council Policy and relevant legislation.
Carry out and lead on project work as directed by the Senior EHO or other relevant manager.
Contribute to the achievement of Council and Departmental objectives and participate in Departmental and Council-wide project teams as directed by the Senior EHO or other relevant Manager
Be responsible for organising personal daily work demands to ensure that all relevant agreed targets are achieved to ensure that a quality, customer focused environmental health service is delivered.
Provide such reports, records and statistical information as required.
Actively participate in and progress through a structured development programme to build professional experience and competence.
Maintain the level of competence, knowledge and skills required for authorisation under legislation relevant to the post. to keep informed of all new and emerging developments within the area of work to which the postholder is currently assigned through a process of continuing professional development.
Provide technical guidance, support and training to other team members and colleagues across the service within any lead/specialist fields of Environmental Health expertise held by the postholder, and to formulate, develop and review procedures and guidance notes for use by other staff and for the effective delivery of services.
Proactively make suggestions for the improvement of work practices and services provided.
Participate as required in the training of students and other persons assigned to the unit for training purposes or work experience.
Occasionally work outside normal office hours and to provide occasional cover for out of hours services relevant to the post and as directed by the unit manager.
Participate in the Departments emergency response phone rota as required.
Motivate, mentor and train any staff that may be temporarily assigned to the post holder to ensure effective service delivery and to be responsible for reviewing and implementing a proper staff training and development programme.
Participate in all induction and in-service training provided by Belfast City Council and in the induction and support of all newly appointed staff and in other human resource management policies and procedures, as appropriate, including, absence management, disciplinary and grievance procedure.
Participate as directed in the council’s recruitment and selection procedures.
Act in accordance with the council and departmental policies and procedures including customer care, equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding and any pertinent legislation.
Undertake the duties in such a way as to enhance and protect the reputation and public profile of the city council.
Undertake such other relevant duties as may from time to time be required.
This job description has been written at a time of significant organisational change and it will be subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisation evolve.  Therefore, the post-holder will be required to be flexible, adaptable and aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description, but which are commensurate with the role.

Essential criteria

Qualifications and driving licence

a) either:

i) have a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Environmental Health which is approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health; or

ii) hold a qualification acceptable to the Environmental Health Registration Board, that is, Diploma in Environmental Health awarded by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), or a historical equivalent; or

iii) be final year students studying for a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Environmental Health due which is approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and graduating by 30th September 2025. The appointment will be subject to official confirmation that the degree has been conferred.

b) Hold either a Certificate of Registration of the Environmental Health Officers’ Registration Board (EHORB) or be a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health – if not already registered with EHORB or CIEH as an EHP, the applicant must complete the registration process and any CIEH assessments required within 18 months of appointment to the post.

c) To be appointed to the EHO (Port Health roles) be qualified as Official Fishery Inspectors (or must undertake practical training and successfully complete the Food Standards Agency online course within three months of appointment); and

d) possess a full, current driving licence which enables them to drive in Northern Ireland and a car available for business use, or, access to a form of transport which will enable them to meet the requirements of the post in full

Shortlisting criteria

In addition to the above qualifications and driving licence, Belfast City Council reserves the right to short-list only those applicants who, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:

in the first instance, can demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one year’s relevant experience of working as an Environmental Health Officer or in a similar Environmental Health role; and
in the second instance, can demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least two years’ relevant experience of working as an Environmental Health Officer or in a similar Environmental Health role.
Please be advised that this alternative is a ‘reasonable adjustment’ specifically for applicants with disabilities who, as a result of their disability, are unable to hold a full, current driving licence.  However please also be advised that, given the business need for the post-holder to carry out specified enforcement, investigative, educational and advisory duties related to the work of the Environmental Health Service with organisations and customers across the city, as well as the need to provide occasional cover for out of hours services, the ‘reasonableness’ of this adjustment will be thoroughly considered prior to any appointment being made.

For more information contact Jessica or Debbie on 02895219313

BSNI are an acting recruitment agency.