At Ipswich Borough Council, we’re passionate about making a real difference for our residents, our communities, and our local economy.

We are looking for an experience and motivated Principal Environmental Health Officer (PEHO) to lead and manage our Environmental Protection Team. This is a pivotal role within the Public Protection Service, overseeing high-quality delivery across the Environmental Protection service.

As a PEHO you will provide excellent leadership, ensure operational excellence and help shape strategic priorities.

. Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and support Environmental Health Officers and Technical Officers to deliver an effective and customer-focused service.
• Oversee the delivery of statutory duties across areas such as environmental protection, nuisance investigations, and regulatory enforcement.
• Manage complex cases, providing expert guidance and professional oversight.
• Develop policies, procedures, and service improvements to ensure high standards and compliance with legislation.
• Work collaboratively with internal colleagues, external partners, and regional networks to address emerging issues and deliver council priorities.
• Prepare reports, advise senior managers, elected members, and stakeholders.
• Support the development of team members through coaching, mentoring, and professional development.

You will have technical expertise with excellent communication and people management skills. You’ll have the confidence to make sound decisions, manage competing priorities, and drive performance.

You will have:

• A degree or equivalent in Environmental Health and EHORB/ CIEH registration.
• Experience working within Environmental Health, ideally across multiple disciplines.
• Strong people leadership and case management skills.
• A sound understanding of relevant legislation, guidance, and regulatory frameworks.

Hours of work are 37 per week, Monday to Friday.

This is a hybrid working role (a minimum of 1 days per week working in the office).

As well as a good salary, we offer a career grade average pension scheme, generous holiday and sick pay entitlements, subsidised parking for work and leisure, public transport discounts, free swimming and gym membership, cycle purchase scheme, plenty of personal and professional development opportunities, flexible working, hybrid working opportunities, Employee Assistance Programme and the opportunity to work with great colleagues.

For more information about this role please contact Clare Lovell (she/her) on 01473 433021 or via email clare.lovell@ipswich.gov.uk

If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know so that the appropriate arrangements can be put in place.

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification to find out more about this role: Job Description and Person Specification

Interviews will be held on 6th July 2026.

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to interview candidates who meet the essential criteria prior to the closing date and / or to close the opportunity to applicants once we receive sufficient applications

Please note CVs are not accepted.