Environmental Health Officer

8-month fixed term | Full-time

Help protect food safety and environmental health in your community

• 8-month fixed-term opportunity covering parental leave
• Put your food verification experience to work
• Friendly, inclusive team with great benefits and flexible work options

About The Role

We have a full-time, part-time negotiable, 8-month fixed-term opportunity for an experienced Environmental Health Officer / Food Verifier to join our Environmental Health Team while we cover parental leave.

You'll have a strong focus on food verification and food safety, working with food businesses across Lower Hutt to support good practice and compliance with the Food Act 2014.

As this is a parental-leave cover position, we're looking for someone with current food verification experience who can confidently step into the role and contribute from the outset.

Key Focus Areas

• Carrying out Food Control Plan verifications
• Supporting and enforcing compliance with the Food Act 2014 and associated regulations
• Providing practical advice and education to food businesses
• Investigating food-related complaints and responding to requests for service
• Undertaking follow-up and enforcement activity where required
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing clear regulatory documentation and reports
• Building constructive relationships with businesses, customers, and other stakeholders
• Contributing to wider environmental health activities as required

You'll have the opportunity to work directly with our community and local businesses, using your food verification experience to help protect public health and support positive compliance outcomes.

Job Description.

About you

We're Looking For Someone Who Is

• An experienced Food Verifier - with current practical experience carrying out food verification work
• Community focused - passionate about protecting public health and supporting safe food practices
• A confident communicator - able to explain regulatory requirements clearly and constructively
• Practical and solutions focused - comfortable assessing issues, applying legislation and making sound decisions
• A collaborator - able to build positive relationships with businesses, customers, colleagues, and other stakeholders

You'll Also Need

• Current experience as a Food Act Verifier
• Experience in environmental health, food safety, or public health
• Knowledge and practical application of the Food Act 2014 and associated requirements
• Strong communication and relationship management skills
• A current New Zealand driver licence

Bonus points for: relevant environmental health, food safety or regulatory qualifications, training or certifications, and experience working within local government.

Why join us?

At Hutt City Council, We Offer

• A chance to make a real difference in our community
• A positive and inclusive team environment
• Ongoing development and wellbeing support
• Flexible working options
• Free pool entry and discounted gym memberships

We're committed to providing a working environment that embraces, values, and reflects the diversity of the community we serve.

Kia noho mai tēnei tāone hei pou herenga waka, hei pou herenga kaupapa, hei wāhi whai hua ki hōna iwi. At Hutt City Council our vision is to build a connected, resilient and inclusive city where all of our people thrive.

Why Work Here?

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people.

Working here is truly rewarding, knowing across all our roles, we're making a genuine difference to Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt. We're a team of leaders, planners, connectors and creators designing our future alongside our communities.

Tūhono mai. Come join us!

Applications close Tuesday 6 October 2026.

Please note we may review applications before the closing date and encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to withdraw the job advertisement at any time.