Environment Protection Officer - Licensing

About the Borough

Joining us, you get to work for not just one high performing London Borough, but two. Kingston and Sutton councils have a number of shared services serving both authorities, with some teams and roles more focused on one council than the other, but the majority are shared across both, meaning you get multiple opportunities to learn from a wider pool of activities and two different political bodies.

We work flexibly in both Kingston and Sutton offices, support working at home or flexible working patterns, provide the equipment and tools to enable you to work flexibly, and ask you to use that flexibility to be creative and ambitious in the services we deliver. There are exciting developments in both boroughs, including the London Cancer Hub in Sutton and the largest housing regeneration programme in Kingston.

Both boroughs are committed to tackling the climate emergency, investing in new technologies and societal change. You should choose Kingston and Sutton if you are looking for an opportunity that will challenge you to deliver more, support you to achieve personal ambitions, and expect you to put borough residents at the heart of what you do.

We are looking for a committed and enthusiastic individual to join our licensing team working across our two boroughs. The team is responsible for a variety of public safety, health and safety and animal welfare regimes in connection with alcohol and entertainment, gambling, special treatments, street trading, animal activities and sports ground safety, and others.

Responsibilities

• Processing licence applications and associated paperwork through to issuing the various types of licences and permits.
• Carrying out on‑site inspections to ensure compliance with conditions and legal requirements.
• Responding to and investigating complaints from residents and businesses.
• Providing advice and guidance to residents and businesses.
• Preparing reports and appearing at Licensing Sub‑Committees where contested applications are determined by a hearing.

Qualifications and Attributes

• Enthusiastic, committed, self‑motivated with a positive attitude.
• Confident communicator with excellent time‑management skills and confidence in dealing with members of the public, elected councillors and other enforcement agencies.
• Ability to adapt to changing properties and work accurately and diligently to tight deadlines.
• Access to a vehicle for work and a full driving licence are desirable; the role may require occasional travel within the shared environment service.

Maintaining a healthy and safe environment is a key priority for both councils. The Licensing Team works to make the boroughs safer and to regulate and support our business communities to grow in challenging times. A small team of specialist officers administers licences and enforces related legislation, providing a high‑quality, responsive service through collaboration internally and with external partners.

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25–32 days, plus bank holidays (pro‑rated if part‑time).
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependent leave.
• Three volunteering days per year in Kingston.
• Hybrid working (dependent on the role).
• Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks.
• Learning and development portal offering a range of courses.
• Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres.
• Interest‑free season ticket loans.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Bicycle loan facilities and cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• Electric vehicle leasing scheme.
• Confidential health and wellbeing and counselling support.

We are a diverse and welcoming borough and we strive to create a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We welcome applications from under‑represented groups and protect all employees and applicants under the Equality Act. We are fully committed to removing barriers and enhancing the diversity of our workforce. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria.

As an accredited London Living Wage Employer, all employees are guaranteed the London Living Wage regardless of contract length or type. We support family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums and inclusive staff networks.

The UK has a points‑based immigration system affecting EU and non‑EU workers and sponsorship requirements. Check the  website for right‑to‑work guidance. Sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. We cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate requests on a case‑by‑case basis.