Senior Environmental Protection Officer

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

Are you an experienced Environmental Protection professional looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference?

We're looking to recruit a number of Senior/Environmental Protection Officers to guide our technical work and shape strategic improvements across East Suffolk. You'll join a supportive and highly skilled team delivering work that has a direct impact on the health, wellbeing and environmental quality of communities across East Suffolk.

The role

We have opportunities for both qualified Environmental Protection Officers who already have gained some experience in delivering services within an environmental protection related field, and for more experienced professionals to undertake Senior Environmental Protection Officer roles leading on more complex investigations, providing specialist advice and helping to shape environmental outcomes across East Suffolk. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to take ownership of challenging casework, mentor colleagues, and further develop their career within a supportive and experienced team.

You will be working across a diverse and varied portfolio including environmental permitting, private water supplies, noise control, statutory nuisance, animal licensing and wider environmental health matters.

There is also the opportunity to work with a focus on Contaminated Land, Air Quality and Planning Consultations, Development Controls and NCIPs.

We encourage matrix and project-based working, giving you the opportunity to work across a wide range of environmental protection disciplines. This approach helps build resilience within the team while ensuring variety, professional development and exposure to interesting and challenging projects.

Please refer to the job description and person specification below for full details of this exciting opportunity.

You will be:

• Experienced in the investigation of regulatory noncompliance or the investigation of complaints of noise and statutory nuisance.
• Able to work independently and give expert advice in one or more areas of Environmental Regulation including but not limited to: permitting, air quality, contaminated land, animal licensing, private water supplies and planning consultations.
• Competent to take appropriate interventions, including the service of notice and other formal action to protect public health and the environment.
• Able to mentor and support technical officers to build expertise, confidence and resilience.

What you will need:

• A degree in Environmental Health or a related environmental science, with membership of a relevant professional body;
• Knowledge of environmental health legislation and enforcement.
• Proven experience in Environmental Protection and Regulation, including areas such as statutory nuisance, air quality, environmental permitting, contaminated land, drainage and private water supplies.
• Mentoring skills, with the ability to inspire and develop others.
• A collaborative and analytical mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
• The ability to travel across the East Suffolk district.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work .

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays).
• Local government pension scheme.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Find more information about what we offer in our Benefits Brochure (pdf) .

For more information

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Sheridan Stock by emailing View email address on suffolkjobsdirect.org .

Closing date: 11pm, 4 October 2026

Interview date: Week Commencing 19 October 2026

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, check out the ' How to Apply ' section of our Career site.

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.

To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council and to hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work, take a look at our video.