Environmental Health, Principal Adviser (JIT, Wales)

Job Title: Environmental Health, Principal Adviser (Joint Inspection Team, Wales)
Contract type: Two-year fixed term appointment, likely to the end of November 2025.
This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work within the newly established Joint Inspection Team (JIT) in Wales, working alongside Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRA) and Local Authorities (LA) to improve the safety of multi-occupied residential buildings. Working alongside LA and FRA, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to inspect and provide expert advice and support to the Strategic Lead of the JIT.
The Environmental Health Officer (EHO) will report to the Strategic Lead, and will work with the Environmental Health and Fire and Rescue Principal Advisers within the JIT as well as Fire Engineers and Building Control Staff to assess the hazard risk within priority high-rise buildings across Wales.
The successful candidate can be based anywhere in the United Kingdom. Frequent travel to Wales will be required to engage and collaborate with Welsh LAs and FRAs; lead pre inspection preparation; lead on-site inspections in Wales and ensure the success of the JIT.
Job description
In early 2021, the Welsh Government's consultation - Safer Buildings in Wales, highlighted proposals for a comprehensive reform of legislation that would contribute to building safety in Wales. It focused on legislative change across the lifecycle of buildings as well as setting out aspirations for culture change in the way in which buildings are designed, constructed and managed. As part of this consultation, views were sought on establishing a JIT in Wales. Now, we are seeking an experienced and professionally qualified Environmental Health Officer who has experience of working with the relevant legislation and can demonstrate conducting inspections, investigations and/or audits of a complex nature.
The successful candidate will play a key role in making a demonstrable difference to building safety in multi-occupied buildings. You will be responsible for the inspection of high-risk residential buildings against relevant building regulations, and produce reports for the enforcement authorities, using a risk based methodology developed by the JIT Strategic Lead and Principal Advisers.
You will play an instrumental part in the future development of policy relating to the safety of multi-occupied residential buildings by presenting key findings and offering advice to overcome barriers identified. The JIT will support policy colleagues to develop policy shaping the future of building safety based on their findings.
Due to the nature of the work, you will need to be confident with the use of flexible working, and be flexible in your approach to work with a keenness to adapt to meet changing work requirements.
Key Tasks/Accountabilities
Be the key witness at Tribunals and Court cases the JIT supports local authorities on, and represent JIT at national policy making meetings.
Where necessary, assist with drafting schedules of work, notices and orders for enforcement under Housing Act 2004, (where the 'host' local authority decides to take such action).
To be the lead Environmental Health expert for on-site inspections, and accompany teams of EHOs, and co-ordinate with building control manager and (where appropriate), 'host' borough staff on HHSRS site visits.
Education and Training
Degree or diploma in Environmental Health.
Membership of Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner.
Housing Health and Safety Rating System practitioner certificate.
Experience and Knowledge
Experience of working within legislation such as the Housing Act 2004.
Extensive experience of working within the Building Safety environment.
Experience of working within legislation affecting building safety.
Experience of working in multi occupied buildings environment.
An appreciation of the current issues facing building safety, specifically to multi occupied residential buildings.
Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of main current legislation to prepare reports and schedules and where authorised, serve notices and take enforcement action, i.e., the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Building Regulations.
Evidence of having an appreciation of the current issues facing building safety, specifically to the multi-occupied residential buildings.
Inclusion and Diversity
We actively welcome and encourage applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse individuals to join our team. We firmly believe that diverse perspectives and experiences enrich our workplace and contribute to the communities we work within.
Asking for Adjustments
We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact our Recruitment Partner at Adecco.
For further information about the role, to request the job description or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our recruitment partner at Adecco: Sam Duggan - (url removed)
Please apply online today or submit your CV to Sam Duggan, using the email address above.
Closing date: Sunday 18th Feb 2024 at midnight