Air Quality Education And Enforcement Officer Job In Location Na

This post is on a fixed-term basis until March, 2026 due to project funding.

Sandwell Council's friendly Pollution Control Team is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated professional to join them on a fixed-term contract for 2 years.

The team is expanding to support the implementation of the 2020–2025 Air Quality Action Plan and our recently declared boroughwide Smoke Control Area.

Sandwell is focused on reducing the public health threat from domestic burning and the associated emissions of harmful PM2.5 particles. The growth in the use of solid fuel burning stoves and open fireplaces, as well as the on-going lighting of outdoor fires such as bonfires and firepits, all continue to negatively impact local air quality.

Using education-led enforcement, the purpose of this role is to raise awareness about the health, environmental, and financial costs of domestic burning while aiming to empower residents to make cleaner choices in a bid to improve overall health outcomes in the borough. The emphasis is on education and support, with formal enforcement used as required to ensure compliance with regulations.

As our Air Quality Education and Enforcement Officer, you will:

• Lead on the delivery of education and public awareness campaigns to reduce harmful emissions of PM_2.5, with a focus on Sandwell’s new Boroughwide Smoke Control Area, and the rules around outdoor burning (e.g., bonfires).
• Encourage, and facilitate open and positive communication with a wide range of stakeholders to demonstrate how compliance with legislation can benefit their health, their finances, and their local environment.
• Engage your professional skills and experience to respond to enquiries, undertake formal investigations, and satisfactorily resolve domestic air pollution complaints.
• Support businesses and retailers across the borough with advice and guidance relating to the sale of solid fuels and, where appropriate, undertake enforcement action to ensure legislative compliance.
• Be able to use the full range of enforcement actions as required to secure compliance, including verbal advice, written warnings, civil financial penalty notices, abatement notices, and prosecutions.
• Be innovative and forward-thinking both in your approach to your workload as well as developing relationships with colleagues in public health and across the Council.

Essential requirements

• Hold a relevant degree, HND level, or equivalent, and be able to demonstrate evidence of continuous professional development.
• Two years or more of experience as an enforcement officer, including the ability to gather and collect evidence as required for formal action to be taken.
• Knowledge and practical understanding of air quality legislation, including determining statutory nuisance offences and breaches of smoke control area rules.
• Have experience with or participated in health education campaigns or other initiatives that encouraged and supported behavioural change.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present to a wide range of audiences,.

Our offer to you:

We are committed to the development of everyone on our team, and we want you to grow your skills and confidence with us. We will support you through regular 1-2-1s, team meetings, and away days, as well as via our appraisal reviews, where we can identify relevant training and continuous professional development opportunities for you.

The closing date for applications is 8th July 2024.

We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible. When completing your application, please refer to the supporting documents attached.

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0121 569 3300 or via e-mail at hr_resourcing@sandwell.gov.uk.

For more information about working for Sandwell Council, our recruitment process, and our offer to you, please visit https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/counciljobs.

Click hereto find out more about our One Team Framework: Values and Behaviours

To apply, please download the application and return it to: HResourcing_applications@sandwell.gov.uk.