Imports Compliance Officer Entry Level - Kent Trading Standards

Role Responsibility

Are you passionate about protecting the public and ensuring the safety of imported products? Kent Trading Standards is offering an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and dynamic individual to join the Imports Compliance team based in Dover. This entry-level position is perfect for those passionate about protecting the public and making a difference.

As a Compliance Officer within the Ports Team, your primary focus will be on determining if imported products are safe to enter the United Kingdom and to be used by the general public. This role is physically demanding, requiring frequent attendance at various port locations in throughout Kent sometimes at short notice. As part of the UK Border Controls, collaborative working with partner agencies will form an essential part of this role

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and progress a caseload within statutory deadlines.
• Assess the compliance of imported products through examination of safety documentation and test reports.
• Conduct physical inspections of imported goods.
• Issue legal notices to refuse entry of non-compliant and dangerous items to the UK marketplace.
• Ensure all casework is accurately recorded on service IT systems.
• Input and update national databases with cases of non-compliant and dangerous products.
• Liaise and work on-site alongside partner agencies such as Office for Product safety and Standards, HM Revenue & Customs, UK Border Force, and Dover Port Health.

Qualifications and Experience

• Level 2 Qualification in English & Mathematics.
• Proven problem-solving skills and excellent communication abilities.
• Experience in quality assurance or audit work.
• IT literacy and knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• Ability to prioritise workloads to meet deadlines and respond effectively to changing demands.
• Proven IT literacy and ability to use and interrogate databases and online resources.
• Ability to manage challenging and confrontational situations professionally and sensitively.
• Knowledge of manual handling rules and techniques.

Additional Requirements

• Working knowledge of a European language is desirable but not essential.
• This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Working Conditions:

• The role will include rotational work between Sevington and other locations on a weekly basis, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to fluctuating demands.
• The post is not currently shift based or subject to weekend working, although there will be early deployments and early evening working.

About the Role

Join a team that ensures public safety by monitoring imported products at various port locations. You’ll support the wider Trading Standards service and contribute to initiatives safeguarding the community.

Kent Trading Standards Ports Team provides Kent County Council’s response to the National Ports and Borders Programme, run by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) by monitoring imported products at various UK Border Control Points in Kent. These locations include the busiest Ro-Ro Port in Europe (Dover), Inland Border Facilities (Sevington near Ashford, Dover Western Docks, and Stop 24 near Folkestone), a fast parcel hub in north Kent (Dartford), and external temporary storage facilities (ETSF’s) dotted around the county as well as the Port of Sheerness with a Ro-Ro freight service operating between Finland, Antwerp and Bilbao. The team also interact with the UK Juxtaposed Border Controls in Northern France (Coquelles),

The successful candidate will enjoy a challenging, problem-solving role within a dynamic environment, motivated by the desire to protect the public from harmful products. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to support the wider Trading Standards service, contributing to various activities aimed at safeguarding communities throughout Kent.

Please refer to the Job Description while completing your application as candidates will be shortlisted based on how closely they match the criteria. Please ensure applications are submitted through the Kent County Council Jobs Portal.

Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 29th May 2025.

This role is subject to holding a Full UK Driving Licence – The Council is committed to making reasonable adjustments so whilst this job requires the jobholder to drive your application will still be considered if you are unable to drive due to a disability.

This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification.

Apply today and become a vital part of Kent Trading Standards!

Contact Details

For further information on this role please contact hiring manager Mike Johnson on 03000 418663 or via email at michael.johnson@kent.gov.uk

About the Company

Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility!

KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work.

Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as possible as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.