Port Health Officer

• East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Coastal Port Health Authority
• Address: Felixstowe Port Suffolk IP11 4AZ or Harwich International Port Suffolk CO12 4SR
• Salary: 39152 - 53460 per annum plus 14% shift allowance*
• Hours: 37 hours per week rotational shift pattern including weekend working (9 weekends per annum)
• Contract: Permanent

It is an exciting time to be joining our Port Health Team as we transform our services in response to the UKs departure from the European Union.

We currently have exciting opportunities to join the East Suffolk Councils Port Health Team as a Port Health Officer (AO7 - AO9).

Our mission is the protection of public and animal health carrying out a range of checks to ensure imported goods are safe for all of us in the UK. Find out more viaour video of the team and what they do. To become part of our team you will be passionate keen to learn and thrive on working in a fast-paced environment.

The role

Your role will beto work with our existing Port Health Officers in carrying out various checks on imported products (including not of animal origin fish and organic items) to ensure they are safe for distribution in the UK. You will also protect international health by monitoring health conditions on board ships in order to prevent disease. You will have the opportunity to work under your own initiative but also with others as part of our friendly team.

What you need

This is a career graded post and the responsibilities of the role will be undertaken at a level appropriate to your qualifications experience and competence as laid out in the job description. It will be essential to have either a degree or equivalent Level 6 qualification in Environmental Health or aHigher Certificate in Food Control with 3 years experience in a food and safety field.

Applications will be considered from trainees however you will be required to have completed your academic studies Portfolio / CDP and professional interview by the date of your must be a Registered Environmental Health Practitioner or a Registered Food Safety Practitioner.

*After the completion of initial training you will participate in a 7-day rotational shift pattern covering the hours of 6.30am 10pm Monday - Friday and 6.30am 2.30pm Saturday including weekend working which will at that point attract a 14% shift allowance on top of the base salary. For weekend working shifts you can choose to have rest days or be paid an overtime rate of time and a half.

If you would like to be at the forefront of this exciting new service we look forward to receiving your application.

Why work for us

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work offering a wide range of benefits to our employees.

Find out why were so proud of East Suffolk Council by watching our video Why Work for East Suffolk Council where our staff explain why they think its such a fantastic place to work.

Here are some of the main benefits:

Interview date: Week commencing 29 September 2025.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (Word)

Step 2 - Complete the Supporting Statement template (Word). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).

Step 3 - Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note CVs are not accepted.

For more information visit theHow to Applysection of our Career Site.