Fair Trading Officer

East Sussex Council; Lewes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the UK is seeking a Fair Trading Officer to join their Trading Standards Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for protecting consumers and ensuring fair trading across the region. Ideal applicants will have part qualified trading standards officer status or relevant experience, possess strong problem-solving and investigative skills, and demonstrate effective communication with stakeholders. This position offers a supportive team environment with opportunities for continued learning and development.

Benefits

Diverse range of benefits

Café with hot and cold lunches

Support for applicants with disabilities

Qualifications

• Part qualified trading standards officer or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Strong investigative skills to gather evidence and produce reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Help the Trading Standards Team protect consumers and ensure fair trading.
• Work with partner organizations like Environmental Health and Sussex Police.
• Interpret and enforce consumer protection legislation.

Skills

Problem-solving initiative

Teamwork

Effective communication

ICT skills

Education

Part qualified trading standards officer status or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Description

Are you a part qualified trading standards officer who wants to challenge and develop yourself in a new environment or do you have experience in enforcement or applying sanctions in another job role, and your looking for a new challenge? Well look no further!

About the Role

We are looking for a Fair Trading Officer to help the Trading Standards Team protect consumers and promote a safe and fair trading environment across the County. The right candidate will bring their knowledge and skills from another consumer protection environment or another enforcement/regulatory environment. To achieve these goals, you will work alongside partner organisations such as Environmental Health, Sussex Police and HMRC, and you will need to demonstrate a real team ethic and willingness to learn.

We will provide additional and continued learning to help you interpret and enforce a wide range of consumer protection legislation using an intelligence‑led approach to inspection, sampling, advice, education and investigation.

We Are Looking For Candidates Who

• Have obtained part qualified trading standards officer status in a recognised Trading Standards field or have equivalent experience in a related field (e.g., Police, HMRC, Immigration).
• Use their own initiative to solve problems and work equally effectively on their own or as part of a team and manage a demanding complex workload.
• Have the ability to investigate issues and undertake activities to gather evidence and produce clear case reports.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Use their developed ICT skills to accurately input and check computer data.

Application Process

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a Supporting Statement. The Supporting Statement will be used to shortlist candidates, so be sure to address how you meet all the criteria in the person specification, drawing on any relevant work/life experience, education, or personal interests.

Interviews will be held week commencing 26 January 2026. Candidates who meet certain criteria are given priority. For guidance on how to write an application see our how to apply page.

Benefits & Working Environment

We offer a diverse range of benefits to help and support you during your employment. More information can be found on our benefits page.

Your place of work, County Hall, provides a café with a full range of hot and cold lunches, snacks and drinks with seating both indoors and out.

About Us

East Sussex Trading Standards is committed to diversity and inclusion. Where necessary, we provide reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. If you require sponsorship to work in the UK, please let us know. For further information, visit East Sussex Trading Standards or check the Work in the UK page.

For further information regarding East Sussex Trading Standards click here.

Please call Andrew Clooney on 07803 575998 if you wish to discuss this opportunity in more detail.

For work that makes a difference, choose East Sussex!

Additional Information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the position is part‑time or term‑time only.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, contact the hiring manager on the contact details above.