Contract: 4 year fixed term contract
Salary: £35,327 per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week

Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding career where you can make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Watford residents? Would you like to join an established profession and study for a degree whilst earning a salary and without incurring university debt? This is a unique opportunity for you to join our team and be supported through an environmental health degree whilst developing the practical skills and experience you need to become a qualified environmental health practitioner.
You will study with the University of Middlesex on their Environmental Health (Apprenticeship) BSc (Hons) course commencing September/October 2025. On the days that you are not attending classes you will work in our team to support our services. You will be coached and supported by experienced professionals across all environmental health functions to embed and develop your academic studies. You can find out more about the apprenticeship here:
https://www.mdx.ac.uk/courses/degree-apprenticeships/environmental-health-apprenticeship-bsc-honours/ Please note that to be accepted onto the course you must provide evidence that you have capacity to work at level 4+ for example: 5 GCSEs (Grade 4 or above) or 5 GCEs (Grade C or above) including: English Language and Mathematics
Upon completion of the 4 year level 6 apprenticeship programme, you will have the opportunity to gain professional status as an Environmental Health Practitioner.

About Watford:-
Watford is an exciting mix of market town aesthetic and urban buzz. Big enough to be bold and small enough for you to make a difference. We are one of a handful of local authorities with a directly elected mayor providing for stability and strong leadership. Our Section includes environmental health (such as food safety, health and safety, environmental protection and housing work), licensing, sustainability, community safety, safeguarding and more. We have a team of dedicated, experienced professionals who are committed to providing high quality services to residents and businesses.

What we are looking for: -
The successful candidate will be highly motivated with the skills and drive to provide a customer focused, responsive, risk based, effective and professional service. Key requirements include very effective communication and team working skills, the ability and motivation to solve problems, personal credibility and an approach that builds rapport and confidence from customers. You will be given training and support and in return we are looking for passion and commitment to the residents of Watford and the environmental health profession.
The role requires you to enrol onto an accredited environmental health apprenticeship degree and to successfully complete the programme. We will support you in making your application and throughout the programme, but you must have the commitment and academic skills to study for the degree.

Sound exciting? Come and join our team, come and make a difference.

Successful applicants will need to attend an in person interview 15th August 2025.

To find out more about the post contact Richard Brown, Environmental Health Manager, on 01923 278440 or at richard.brown@watford.gov.uk or Joanna Harding, Environmental Health Manager on 01923 278443 or at joanna.harding@watford.gov.uk. To find out more about what it is like to work at Watford please contact one of our Environmental Health Officers Julia Manuel on 01923 278988 or at julia.manuel@watford.gov.uk for an informal discussion.

A basic Disclosure check or DBS enhanced check (as applicable) will be carried out for this post.

Closing Date: 3rd August 2025

At Watford Borough Council we consider equality issues alongside other factors when making decisions as an employer of choice. We are committed to ensuring that we have effective policies, strategies, procedures, and processes and that we encourage behaviour which promotes equality, encourages diversity, and contributes to an inclusive organisational culture.