Specialist Trading Standards Officer - Animal Health and Feed Permanent, Full Time Up to £49,932 Per Annum Location: Countywide Working Style: Community-based worker Closing Date: 26th January 2025 This position will be a mix of hybrid working of home/ field / office based on a flexible basis. Relocation package available, please visit working for Essex https://workingforessex.com/working-here/pay-reward. The Role Essex Trading Standards is looking for a highly motivated person to join its team as a Specialist Trading Standards Officer leading on Animal Health and Agriculture. Essex is one of the largest Shire Counties in the UK with a population of just under 1.5 million. With over 3400 livestock holdings, 1,400 feed premises, a livestock market, several abattoirs, dealers and hauliers, Essex is more rural than many people give it credit for. To read more about our business area, please visit: Economy, Investment and Public Health The Opportunity In this role you will be taking an operational lead on animal health and agriculture and while you will have no direct line management (unless conducting a specific project) responsibility you will be providing guidance and support to other officers across the service. You'll be dealing with the more complex issues and providing strategic updates and recommendations to service managers to ensure we are always performing to the highest standards. You will be responsible for overseeing all animal health and agriculture activity including the completion of our plans and statutory returns and will represent the authority both regionally and nationally. Accountabilities You will need to be a fully qualified and experienced Trading Standards Officer holding either the DCATS, DTS or equivalent. While qualification and competency in animal health and agriculture would be an advantage it is not essential. We are looking for someone with existing experience and expertise in Animal Health and Feed but would be willing to consider applications from qualified Trading Standards Officers wishing to upskill in one of these disciplines and will provide training and support to enable this to happen. You'll be working in one of three multi-functional teams responsible for handling all incoming demand one week in three - so a good working knowledge of Trading Standards legislation is desirable. You will have excellent communication skills (and the ability to deal confidently with a range of stakeholders) and be equally comfortable working both alone and as part of a team of Trading Standards professionals across the whole service. Excellent organisational skills are a must together with the ability to assess, prioritise workload and hit agreed deadlines. You will hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car that can be used for work. We'll support you to be to your best, with the resources, training and development to empower you. Flexible working options and other lifestyle benefits will enable you to make the most of your life outside work too. The Experience You Will Bring Educated to RQF level 5 in the full range of Trading Standards responsibilities (including food standards, fair trading, animal health and welfare and product safety) together with a Postgraduate Diploma in Trading Standards or equivalent professional qualification. Evidence of continuing professional development and demonstrable expert knowledge in relevant professional areas with a lead assessor or equivalent qualification. Membership of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Be a class leading specialist with experience of attending national/regional groups providing expert knowledge in a specific area or areas of Trading Standards law. Significant experience of carrying out a range of Trading Standards investigations and submitted infringement reports that satisfied Trading Standards policy, process and quality criteria. Excellent communication skills with experience of working collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, managers, elected members, partners, business representatives, national organisations and other enforcement agencies and Government departments. Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders, supply chains and partners to ensure service objectives are met and to maximise outcomes for Essex residents and businesses. Demonstrable experience of successful project management delivering desired outcomes for Essex residents and businesses. Proven experience of working as part of a team to achieve objectives. Excellent organisational skills with the ability to plan, manage and deliver complex workloads, including that of team members, as part of a project team, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to keep accurate, concise and legally admissible records and notes. Why Essex? As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means. As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.teamessex.gov.uk Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page. Downloads Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours