Enforcement Officer Trading Standards (Tobacco and Vapes)

About the role

Enforcement Officer Trading Standards (Tobacco and Vapes)

Fixed Term – 2.5 years duration, Full Time - 37 Hours Per Week, Monday to Friday

Up to £31,295 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: Wednesday 17th December 2025 at 11.59pm

Interview Date: 8th January 2026

Essex Trading Standards is looking for a highly motivated individual to take on a vital role in enforcing vape and tobacco regulations. This is more than just a job - it's your chance to make a lasting impact on the Essex community, ensuring fairness, compliance, and public safety. If you're ready to take on a rewarding challenge with clear career progression and want to be proud of the difference you make, this is the opportunity you've been waiting for. Join us and be part of something meaningful!

This role is offered as a Fixed Term Contract or Secondment opportunity for a period of 2.5 years.

As an ‘Community Based Worker’ position, the role will involve a combination of remote working, community based and office-based working. There will be an expectation for you to attend the office - County Hall, Chelmsford, CM1 1QH 1 - 2 days per week in addition to ‘as and when’ there is a business need.

Why work with us?

Flexible Working Arrangements.
37 hour working week. Monday to Friday.
26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays after 5 years of service.
Local Authority Pension Scheme. For more details please visit: https://www.essexpensionfund.co.uk/
Work for a high performing team with great team morale and friendly, helpful, and supportive colleagues.
Access high quality training and development to help develop your career within the child and family sector.
Continuous Service – Joining us from another local authority? Then you could benefit from bringing your time served and benefits with you.

The Role:

Trading Standards is responsible for supporting legitimate business activity by providing advice and support, encouraging economic development and prosperity, and helping to create a level playing field. We protect the economic interests of Essex residents (particularly the more vulnerable members of community) by using all the tools available to swiftly and effectively tackle rogue traders and businesses that cause the most consumer detriment. We adopt an intelligence led approach to enforcing a broad range of Trading Standards legislation including fair trading, underage sales, food and product safety, animal health and welfare to name just a few.

The Enforcement Officer Trading Standards (Tobacco and Vapes) role will focus on the enforcement of rules regulating vapes and tobacco, including the supply of illegal/illicit products and tackling age restricted sales to children. The role will provide information, advice, and assistance on Trading Standards law to businesses based in Essex.

The role includes undertaking visits alone to inspect businesses for compliance, providing guidance and support, and when necessary, gathering of evidence and compiling prosecution reports.

The role contributes to the achievement of service and community objectives including, the reduction of crime and disorder; reducing anti-social behaviour; improving health and wellbeing; and promoting a fair trading environment throughout the County of Essex, by enforcing civil and criminal Trading Standards laws in an effective, efficient and impartial way.

About You:

Essential:

Previous experience of working in Trading Standards, another enforcement or regulatory type role or equivalent profession.
Good attention to detail and the ability to keep accurate, concise, and legally admissible records and notes.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ability to use / learn bespoke Trading Standards databases e.g., Intelligence Database (IDB) and Civica APP/Cx trader and enforcement databases.

Desirable:

Demonstrable knowledge of relevant Trading Standards legislation, enforcement procedures and protocols is highly desirable
Excellent communication skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, managers, elected members, partners, and business representatives.
Educated to RQF level 3 (A Level’s) or equivalent by experience.
Evidence of continuing professional development and knowledge in relevant professional area.

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 on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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