Civil Enforcement Officer

Please note that while the closing date for this vacancy is 16th November, applications will be reviewed throughout the advertising period and interviews may be arranged on an ongoing basis. As a result, shortlisted candidates may be invited to interview before the closing date.

Help Keep Cornwall Moving

Do you enjoy working outdoors, meeting different people, having responsibility for your own work and making a positive difference in your community?

Could you stay calm and professional when someone is unhappy with a decision you've made?

Cornwall Council's is looking for Civil Enforcement Officers to help keep roads safe, public spaces accessible and Cornwall moving.

This is a practical, public-facing role where you'll spend much of your working day out on patrol. You'll work independently, engage with residents, businesses and visitors, provide advice and information and, where necessary, take enforcement action.

No two days are the same. You may need to explain why a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) has been issued, answer questions about parking restrictions or deal with situations where someone disagrees with your decision. You'll need to remain calm, fair and professional. As a uniformed Cornwall Council officer, you will be a visible representative of the Council, leading by example and helping to create a positive impression of our services and communities.

If you enjoy working with people, making decisions and being out and about in your community, we'd like to hear from you.

What you'll do

As a Civil Enforcement Officer, you'll help make sure our roads, car parks and public spaces are safe, accessible and well managed.

Your day could include:

- Patrolling streets, car parks and public spaces across Cornwall, usually on foot.
- Helping keep traffic moving and making sure access is maintained for residents, businesses and visitors.
- Checking vehicles against parking restrictions and issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) where restrictions aren't being followed.
- Speaking with members of the public, answering questions and explaining parking restrictions. Some days you'll give almost as many directions as parking advice.
- Carrying out environmental enforcement, including tackling littering and dog fouling.
- Investigating abandoned vehicles and carrying out other community protection work.
- Keeping accurate records and using handheld technology to record your work.

Could this be you?

You don't need previous parking or enforcement experience. We'll train you in the procedures and practical skills you need to succeed in the job.

We're interested in what you can bring from other parts of your life and career.

You may have worked in customer service, retail, hospitality, transport, leisure, security, the emergency services or another public-facing role. These environments often develop the communication skills, judgement, resilience and confidence needed to work independently and make fair decisions.

You'll need to be someone who can:

- Communicate clearly and respectfully with a wide range of people.
- Stay calm and professional when conversations become difficult.
- Listen to people and explain decisions clearly and confidently.
- Use your judgement and follow procedures when deciding what action to take.
- Work on your own for periods of time and manage your workload.
- Be reliable, responsible and committed to providing a high-quality public service.
- Deal with the realities of working outdoors, including walking, standing and working in rain, wind, cold and other weather conditions.

This is a physically active role. You'll spend significant periods walking and standing and will patrol a variety of locations, sometimes alone.

This is a public-facing position where the statutory English language requirement for public sector workers applies.

Your working pattern

We have several full-time positions available at locations across Cornwall.

You'll work 37 hours per week on a rota, with contracted hours falling between 8.00am and 8.00pm.

Weekend, evening and bank holiday working is required.

We also welcome applications from people interested in predominantly evening, night and weekend working arrangements.

What you'll get in return

The starting salary is £26,597, with additional payments for Sundays, bank holidays and other eligible working patterns.

After successfully completing probation and the City & Guilds Level 2 qualification, typically within six months, your salary will increase to £28,567, with annual progression available up to £31,869.

You'll also receive:

- Overtime opportunities to increase your earnings.
- Full training, including the City & Guilds Level 2 qualification in Civil Parking Enforcement.
- Ongoing support from an experienced and supportive team.
- Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) powers and training.
- Professional development, e-learning and specialist training.
- Opportunities to develop specialist skills across community protection activities.
- Career development opportunities within Cornwall Council.

Want to know what the job is really like?

We think it's important that you understand the job before you decide whether it's right for you.

All shortlisted candidates will complete a shadow patrol as part of the recruitment process.

We also strongly encourage you to arrange a shadow patrol before you apply.

You'll be able to spend time with one of our officers, see what a typical patrol involves, ask questions and get an honest feel for both the rewarding and more challenging aspects of the job.

There is no pressure to apply afterwards. We'd rather you find out what the job is really like and decide it's right for you.

If you enjoy being out and about, working independently, meeting people and making a practical difference in your community, a career as a Civil Enforcement Officer could be for you.

To arrange a shadow patrol before applying, please contact [email protected]

Please read the role profile for the full details of this role attached below in this advert

Additional Information:

Cornwall Council is unable to offer sponsorship or transfer existing sponsorship for this role.

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to interview.

To arrange a shadow patrol before applying, please contact [email protected]

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application, you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV.

Remember to demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points marked as ‘Application’ on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here – The application process.

We recognise that you may choose to use AI tools when preparing your application. We ask that any information you include is an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge, experience and achievements. You may be asked to discuss the examples and evidence you provide during the selection process.

We may adapt our shortlisting approach where we receive a high volume of applications. Any shortlisting decisions will be based on the information provided in your application and the essential requirements of the role.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted, please contact [email protected] if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.