Job details
Salary: (Subject to competency and qualifications)
- Environmental Health Technician: £28,101- £33,044 (including allowances)
- Senior Environmental Heath Technician: £35,892 - £37,761 (including allowances)
Location: Civic Centre, Gravesend
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full-time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
Closing Date: 29 May 2025
The Role
We are looking for a motivated individual with a solution-focussed, ‘can-do’ attitude and excellent communication skills to join our busy Environmental Protection Team.
The successful candidate will enjoy a varied and interesting workload, both in and out of the office, with a focus on matters relating to noise/acoustics.
They will also play a key role in supporting the wider work of the team including undertaking investigations/taking enforcement action in relation to noise nuisances, bonfires, smoke control and accumulations, etc. carrying out air quality and other environmental monitoring, and responding to planning & licensing consultations.
Whilst the ideal applicant will therefore have relevant prior knowledge and experience, we also welcome applications from enthusiastic individuals looking for a career in Environmental Protection who are willing to undertake relevant training.
This exciting post will involve travelling, generally within the Borough, for which a mileage rate is payable.
The post holder must be able and willing to work remotely (e.g. from home) and will need to be able to work some flexible and unsociable hours including evenings and weekends on an ad-hoc basis to support/progress the casework of the team and wider service as may reasonably be required.
The council operates a Hybrid Working Policy where officers can work from home and attend the office on a minimum of two days per week depending on the needs of the service. The successful candidate will however be expected to attend the office on a more frequent basis initially for onboarding.
Responsibilities
- To carry out a range of duties within the Environmental Protection Team commensurate with the post-holder’s level of experience and qualifications, but with a particular focus on noise/acoustics.
- To act as a key consultee in relation to licensing and planning applications, primarily in relation to noise/acoustics as well as any other Environmental Protection responsibilities, e.g. odour, artificial lighting, air quality impacts etc.
- To carry out inspections, investigations and enforcement, and deal with complaints and other service requests, in accordance with the statutory guidelines and departmental procedures as well as other environmental protection functions of the council including, but not limited to, air quality, pollution, smoke nuisance and control, noise/acoustics, statutory nuisances, filthy and verminous properties, unauthorised encampments, contaminated land, pests and drainage.
Further details are contained in the accompanying Job Description, Person Specification and Salary Criteria.
Interviews are going to be held in person at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 11 June and Friday 13 June.
About you
The successful candidate will:
- have a good level of general education to ‘A’ level standard or equivalent by experience, and
- have excellent organisational, time management, communication, IT and people management skills with a solution-focussed, ‘can-do’ attitude.
- be a team-player
- be a self-starter who is proactive in taking on work and able to suitably progress it under pressure with minimum supervision.
- have a full driving licence and own car as these are essential.
The ideal candidate will:
- hold a suitable qualification in acoustics/noise
- hold a qualification in a relevant field (e.g. environmental health/environmental sciences, Local Air Quality Management etc.) and/or have relevant experience and knowledge.
However prior experience/knowledge is not essential for the right person who is keen to learn and willing to undertake training as may be required.
Working for Gravesham
We are committed to delivering to the community and working with us means you are part of delivering the level of growth and improvement our community needs and deserves. A range of services have been provided to over 106,000 people and 4,000 businesses.
The Borough of Gravesham, situated in the north west corner of Kent, covers 25,000 acres of the most varied countryside in south east England. Bordered by the River Thames to the north, it is at the heart of Thames Gateway and has a significant role to play in the regeneration of a major government growth area.
Read more information about working for us.
Benefits
- A minimum of 23 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays.
- Membership to Local Government Pension Scheme - Local Government Pension Scheme
- Career development, training opportunities and access to e-learning
- Access to eye care vouchers and VDU Glasses
- External Occupational Health service
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to EAP Services 24/7
- Hybrid Working
- Free parking
Important Information
Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job description.
Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please email Debbie Wilders (deborah.wilders@gravesham.gov.uk) or Mark Lees (mark.lees@gravesham.gov.uk).
How to apply
Please send your CV and covering letter to recruitment@gravesham.gov.uk by 29 May 2025.
If you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.
All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email, if you require documentation in different format such as braille or large print, please contact the Human Resources Team on 01474 337374.