Licensing Officer

Licensing Officer

About Watford Borough Council

Watford is an urban borough in South West Hertfordshire;

the borough has excellent transport links with mainline rail connections to London. Watford is the centre of a sub-region serving around 500,000 people living within a 20-minute travel-time catchment. As part of the London commuter belt, Watford is strongly influenced by London, which brings the benefits of a buoyant economy.

At a glance

- £1.4bn local investment happening – mix of public and private funding.

- 5 major development and regeneration projects happening.

- 3,500 registered businesses.

- Higher than average working age population.

- Skilled workforce.

- Home to many major international head offices.

Watford is 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 stability and strong leadership.

Contract: 7-month fixed-term contract.

Hours: 15 hours per week.

Salary: £33,106 per annum (pro rata).

The Role

As a Licensing Officer, you will oversee a wide range of the Council's licensing functions, ensuring strict adherence to legal and policy standards.

Key responsibilities include:

- Serving as a point of contact for all licensing enquiries from customers, partners, and members.

- Managing face-to-face operational requirements and promptly responding to phone and email enquiries.

- Administering online booking systems, processing payments, and facilitating essential services for customers.

- Identifying and resolving instances of non-compliance with policy or statutory requirements through engagement with licence holders.

- Escalating unresolved issues to senior management as needed.

- You will be responsible for managing licensing functions, including taxis and private hire vehicles, alcohol, entertainment, gambling, late-night refreshment premises, charity collections, street traders, pavement licences, lotteries, and various minor licences.

What we’re looking for

Join our team as a Licensing Officer and contribute to ensuring compliance and efficiency across the Council's licensing functions. We're seeking a candidate who can:

- Demonstrate understanding or previous experience in local authority licensing functions, including the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, hackney carriage and private hire licensing, and other local licensing regulations.

- Exhibit a proven ability to prioritise, plan effectively, and manage time to consistently meet challenging deadlines.

- Possess strong communication skills, both verbal and written, capable of engaging effectively with diverse audiences.

- Implement a risk-based approach to uphold licensing objectives and adhere to the Council’s Compliance Policy, including promptly addressing non-compliance issues.

If you are passionate about licensing, eager to ensure regulatory compliance, and thrive in a dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply!

A basic DBS check will be carried out.

Closing Date: 12th January 2026.

Assessment Centre Day: 21st January 2026.