Environmental Health Officer

Post: Environmental Health Officer

Reports to the: Higher/Executive Environmental Health Practitioner

Position Summary and Key Responsibility

An Environmental Health Officer within Food Safety and Security Authority (FSSA) is a professional who ensures food is safe to eat by enforcing hygiene and safety current legislation and regulations. Their responsibilities include inspecting food businesses, investigating foodborne illnesses, providing advice on food safety standards, and taking enforcement/legal action against non-compliant businesses. They are also responsible for sampling food for testing and educating businesses and the community about food safety. 

An Environmental Health Officer will be reporting directly to the Higher/Executive Environmental Health Practitioner s/he is assigned to.

Main Accountabilities & Responsibilities

The Environmental Health Officer shall be responsible of the below roles and responsibilities:

i. Carries out, whenever he/she shall be so directed, all such duties concerning, food safety as may be assigned to him/her.

ii. Conduct risk-based assessments of food premises to verify compliance with national and European Union food safety legislation;

iii. Investigate food related complaints and conduct market surveillance. 

iv. Control importation of food and food contact material

v. Participates in monitoring programmes including the sampling of food, water and environmental samples;

vi. Perform any official controls related to food safety, food hygiene, food information, internal audits or other food related activity.

vii. Maintain detailed records of inspections, sample reports, enforcement actions and correspondence;

viii. Issue improvement notices or sanctions in cases of non-compliance and recommend prosecution/administrative fines when necessary.

ix. Attends court and tribunal sittings when requested;

x. Carries out investigations of foodborne illnesses, follow ups and take remedial action when or where necessary;

xi. Supervises and documents the destruction of non-compliant food products and food contact materials to ensure regulatory compliance;

xii. Issue permits, authorisations, approval or licences as the case may be or effects registrations, if necessary;

xiii. Processes and submits recommendations on all filed applications for the attention of the various competent authorities in connection with the issue of a licence, permit or approval;

xiv. Participates where appropriate in meetings, training and seminars which may be held both locally and abroad;

xv. Participates in the training of students or other authorised officers;

xvi. Maintains inter-agency cooperation and executes joint inspections as required;

xvii. Assist in the development and review of food safety policies, guidelines and regulatory updates;

xviii. Represent the FSSA in Committees, workshops, etc including overseas;

xix. Undertakes any other tasks, which the superior may delegate to him/her, as may be required;

xx. Undertakes any other duties which may be updated to meet the requirements of any other area as confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer;

xxi. Performs any other duties as directed by the Chief Executive Officer.

Eligibility Requirements

By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

a. citizens of Malta; or

b. citizens of other Member States of the European Union who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters of employment by virtue of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or

c. citizens of any other country who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment by virtue of the application to that country of EU legislation and treaty provisions dealing with the free movement of workers; or

d. any other persons who are entitled to equal treatment to Maltese citizens in matters related to employment in terms of the law or the above-mentioned EU legislation and treaty provisions, on account of their family relationship with persons mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c); or

e. third country nationals who have been granted long-term resident status in Malta under regulation 4 of the ‘Status of Long-Term Residents (Third Country Nationals) Regulations, 2006’ or who have been granted a residence permit under regulation 18(3) thereof, together with family members of such third country nationals who have been granted a residence permit under the ‘Family Reunification Regulations, 2007’; or

f. in possession of a residence document issued in terms of the “Residence Status of United Kingdom Nationals and their Family Members in Malta in accordance with the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community Regulations”.

The advice of the Citizenship Unit within Community Malta Agency and the Expatriates Unit within Identita`Agency should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

AND

• must be proficient in the Maltese Language. However, candidates who do not possess proficiency in the Maltese language will still be considered but must provide evidence of basic proficient in the Maltese language before confirmation of appointment, which is within one (1) year of engagement by being successful in the examination in Basic Medical Maltese for the Healthcare Profession Part 1 of the University of Malta. The course officially leading to this examination is the course in Basic Medical Maltese for the Healthcare Profession, Part 1 run by the Department of Maltese of the University of Malta. Any related course and assessment fees are to be paid by prospective selected Duties Eligibility Requirements candidates. However, such expenses may be claimed through the Continuous Professional Duties Eligibility Requirements Development Scheme (CPD).

AND;

• be proficient in the English language.

Either

• by providing proof by the interview date, that the primary qualification was undertaken in the English Language.

OR

• by providing by the interview date, a valid certificate of IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or an average band score of 6 or above in the listening, reading, writing and speaking domains. A certified equivalent qualification to IELTS (overal band score 6) e.g. GCSE / Cambridge: Grade C, TOEFL (IBT): 60 - 80, CEFR: B2 will also be accepted.

OR

• by providing documentation showing at least six (6) month full-time equivalent certified work experience as an Environmental Health Officer in the United Kingdom, Ireland, or any other English-speaking Country where English if the primary and / or the Official language.

AND

in possession of a relevant Degree at MQF Level 6 (subject to a minimum of 180 ECTS / ECVET credits or equivalent) AND registered in the Register for Environmental Health held by the Council for the Professions Complementary to Medicine in Malta.

Candidates who have not yet formally obtained or are not yet approved for any of the above-mentioned qualifications will still be considered, provided that they submit evidence that they are in the final phase of their course leading to such qualification. Candidates must obtain, or be approved, for the award of such qualification and certificate of registration in Environmental Health by the Council for Professions Complimentary to Medicine prior to being appointed and within the validity period of the original result which is one (1) calendar year from the date of publication. Candidates will not be considered for appointment if the stipulated deadline for the attainment of the required qualification and registration is not met.

Terms & Conditions (see attached document)

Key Competencies

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Decision-making
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Adaptability
• Professionalism

Skills Required

• Combination of technical, analytical, and interpersonal abilities.
• Excellent communication (both written & verbal) and problem-solving abilities
• Capacity to remain calm under pressure
• Attention to detail
• Strong customer service skills
• Teamwork
• High level of compassion

Submission of Applications

Applications are to include an up-to-date detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a true copy of the relevant qualification certificates.

Clean police conduct not later than six months should also be submitted. The closing date of the receipt of applications is 30/7/26 . Applications received after closing date and time will not be considered.

Selection procedure

Eligible applicants, will be assessed by a selection board based on a set of selection criteria to determine their suitability for the post.

All applicants will be duly informed of the outcome of the selection process once the position has been filled.