The London Borough of Hillingdon is home to London Heathrow, the UK’s busiest Airport for passenger and cargo movements. Based at the Border Control Post at the Cargo Terminal, you will play an essential role in ensuring that all statutory controls of food and feed are carried out to protect the health of the UK.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Food Safety Officer or Environmental Health Officer to join our Imported Food Team at London Heathrow Airport. You will be working alongside Official Veterinarians and Technical Officers, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained in relation to the importation of food and feed.
Your role will be to protect public and animal health at the border. On a day to day basis you will be examining consignments containing a variety of foodstuffs to verify that they comply with import controls, in order to keep our borders safe.
About You
You will have one of the following qualifications:
- Higher Certificate in Food Control issued by the CIEH (previously the Environmental Health Registration Board)
- Environmental Health Officer with a Certificate of Registration issued by the CIEH (previously the Environmental Health Registration Board)
Experience of providing good customer care will be essential, as you will be expected to provide advice and information to service users, other local authorities and government departments such as the Food Standards Agency. We are looking for an individual that can hit the ground running, so a background in food law enforcement, and knowledge of imported food controls would be advantageous.
Whilst you complete your training period (approximately 3 months) you will work 36 hours each week Monday – Friday. Once training is completed you will move onto one of the shifts and receive the associated shift allowance (14%). There are 2 shift teams and they work the following shift pattern over a 2 week period:
Week 1:
Monday and Tuesday = 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours with 30 minute break)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday = OFF
Saturday = 08:00 – 18:30 (10 hours)
Sunday = 08:00 – 18:00 (9.5 hours)
Week 2:
Monday and Tuesday = OFF
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday = 08:00 – 19:00 (10.5 hours)
Saturday and Sunday = OFF
Every third or fourth time that you are on shift you will be required to work the evening period instead:
Week 1:
Monday and Tuesday = 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday = OFF
Saturday = 12:00 – 22:30 (10 hours)
Sunday = 12:30 – 22:30 (9 hours)
Week 2:
Monday and Tuesday = OFF
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday = 11:30 – 22:30 (10.5 hours)
Saturday and Sunday = OFF