Environmental Health Officer

Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Medical
Level:Officer
Healthcare
Adventure
Humanitarian aid
Medical
Sciences
Environmental Health Officer
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High demand role

This is a highly competitive role with a potential long lead time to join.

You may wish to consider joining the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer (Submariner)
or Warfare Officer.

Warfare Officer (Submariner) Warfare Officer

The role at a glance

What you’ll do

In protecting our nation’s interests all over the world, Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel are exposed to some of the most extreme conditions imaginable. As an Environmental Health Officer, you’ll lead the team that helps to keep our people safe and healthy wherever they are in the world. The vital environmental assessments provided by your team will ensure our most vital operations remain on track, with safe water supplies and adequate sanitation for everyone, wherever they are in the world.

If you have questions, talk to us

Your role

  • Develop and maintain environmental health standards in the Naval Service, reporting directly to senior officers across all branches and services.
  • Work in a regional team, doing everything from inspecting Royal Navy ships and submarines to advising on safe water supplies and sanitation for personnel on exercise or in the field.
  • Tackle remote, demanding and potentially hostile environments, adapting your skills and applying your knowledge to overcome whatever challenges you face.
  • Work closely with fellow Royal Navy Nursing and Medical Officers, and other healthcare professionals, wherever and whenever you’re needed. Our people are our most important asset, and without you they’re at risk.

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Enrollment on 2 year-chartered status programme if not already achieved
  • Study for academic and vocational awards
  • Receive support in maintaining your professional portfolio
  • Civilian recognised leadership and management qualifications
  • Additional funding for personal and professional development courses

Skills you'll develop

  • How to apply your Environmental Health skills and expertise in challenging conditions all around the world
  • Opportunities to work alongside skilled professionals from other medical disciplines
  • Leadership and management skills
  • Mentorship and development of others

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • Aged between 22 and 39
  • BSc/MSc in Environmental Health from accredited institute & EHRB, CIEH or equivalent Registration or a Chartered EHP
  • 5 grades A*-C (9-4) Including grade 6 (B) or above in English Language and Maths 
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth Citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test

Skills and interests

  • An ambitious, passionate medical professional
  • A confident leader
  • Always calm under pressure
  • An adventurous spirit
Check Eligibility

Starting your career

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application

    Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

    You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
    To prepare, you can practise the DAA

  • Interview

    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

  • Medical and eye tests

    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

  • Interview

    You’ll have a short interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and to ensure you’re ready for the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

  • Admiralty Interview Board

    This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance


Initial training

You’ll spend approximately 30 weeks training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, focusing on: Military Skills, Maritime Skills and Initial Fleet Time. The military skills phase includes learning leadership and teamwork skills, and the principles of command and management. You will put this into practice during several exercises on Dartmoor.

Aim to get yourself as fit as you can before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in good shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.


Professional training

With your initial training under your belt, you’ll go on your first Royal Navy appointment, where you’ll carry out specialist competency training that reflects your individual needs and the demands of life in the Naval Service. As your career progresses you’ll receive all the support you need to achieve Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner status and meet your continual professional development requirement, all paid for by us.