Location
London Borough of Hounslow

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£50,676 per annum

About the Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Food Safety Team as a Principal Regulatory Officer. You will primarily ensure compliance with statutory food safety requirements, improve public safety, and enhance the quality of life for residents in the London Borough of Hounslow. The role offers the chance to develop your skills in compliance, strategy development, policy implementation, and supporting underperforming food businesses through targeted advice, educational programmes, and official food control interventions.

About the Team
You will be part of the Food Safety Team within Environmental Health Services, under the Environment and Transport directorate. The team safeguards public health by ensuring food businesses comply with statutory requirements, protecting residents from harm and promoting high hygiene standards. The team includes environmental health officers, technical officers, and compliance support staff working collaboratively to deliver proactive inspections and responsive interventions. You will report directly to the Food Safety Manager and act as a key deputy in their absence.

Key Responsibilities
- Lead statutory compliance activities borough-wide
- Coordinate and support the team during emergencies, food safety incidents, or outbreaks, including risk assessments and response planning
- Collaborate across departments and with external agencies to develop joint enforcement or advisory actions
- Keep up to date with food safety legislation and best practices to ensure robust regulatory practices
- Support the development and training of junior officers, fostering continuous learning and professional excellence

About Us
The London Borough of Hounslow is an outstanding council serving a diverse and vibrant community. We are committed to excellent service delivery, visionary leadership, and a culture that values equality, diversity, and inclusion. Our core values include Lead with Heart, Do New, Pass on the Power, Harness the Mix, and Be a Rock. We actively promote a diverse workforce and inclusive working environment, supporting employees through learning and development programmes and reasonable adjustments for candidates.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We embrace equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our work. We strive to break down barriers and unlock the power of diverse perspectives to solve problems and serve our community effectively. We are a Disability Confident Employer and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Experience
- Proven ability to make confident decisions within a regulatory or risk-based environment, including working independently
- Experience working collaboratively and building strong relationships across teams, services, and external agencies
- Ability to prioritise workload effectively, especially in time-pressured situations such as incidents or outbreaks
- Knowledge of food safety legislation and best practices, with a proactive approach to staying informed and influencing improvements
- Experience communicating technical or regulatory information clearly to diverse audiences, including the public and business owners

About You
- Motivated and collaborative professional who thrives in a dynamic environment
- Highly organised with strong prioritisation skills
- Curious and proactive learner who adapts quickly to emerging issues
- Flexible and able to deliver joined-up solutions across teams and agencies
- Passionate about protecting and improving public health standards

Qualifications
- Basic DBS clearance is essential
- Relevant qualifications or experience in food safety or environmental health are implied but not explicitly stated; a commitment to continuous professional development is expected