Specialist Trading Standards Officer

Specialist Trading Standards Officer

Permanent

Full Time, 37 hours per week

Up to £51,430 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 29th June 2025

Relocation package available

This position will be a mix of hybrid working of home/ field / office based on a flexible basis.

Essex Trading Standards is looking for a highly motivated person to join its team as a Specialist Trading Standards Officer leading on Fair Trading.

Essex is one of the largest Shire Counties in the UK with a population of just over 1.8 million and over 25,000 diverse business premises. While we look to support legitimate business activity wherever we can, we don’t shy away from taking on difficult and complex Trading Standards criminal investigations. We will use all tools available to us to ensure businesses in Essex are trading fairly and that those that choose to break the law are investigated and brought to compliance.

In this role you will be taking an operational lead on fair-trading matters and while you will have no direct line management responsibility (unless conducting a specific project) you will be providing guidance, support and training 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 fair trading activity including the completion of our plans and statutory returns and will represent the authority both regionally and nationally.

You will need to be a fully qualified and experienced Trading Standards Officer holding either the DCATS, DTS or equivalent. We are looking for someone with significant current experience and expertise in fair trading including managing complex cases, doorstep crime response, legal process including disclosure and acquisition of communications data including RIPA. You will also have management oversight of the services secure evidence procedures and stores. 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 – including taking a lead role developing our existing relationships with the police and being the Trading Standards lead on the Essex Multi Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF) initiative. You’ll 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.

To read more about our business area, please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

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.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) ) on our careers site

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.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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 or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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