Recycling Support Officer

Job Description

Job Title:  Recycling Support Officer 

Location:  Bedford 

Employer:  Change Agents UK 

Client:  Bedford Borough Council 

Number of Positions:  1 

Salary (per annum pro rata):  £22,571 per annum pro rata 

Start Date:  ASAP 

Contract:  Fixed term until 17th March 2023 (maternity cover) 

Overview: 

This is a great opportunity for an environmentally focussed individual to enthuse all sectors of the community about improving recycling and composting for a greener Bedford. The role offers a variety of workload including community engagement to improve the quality and quantity of recycling, auditing and the monitoring of waste contracts and contracted sites/activities by conducting inspections and liaising with contractors’ representatives. You will also have the opportunity to provide recommendations and advice to our Planning Team and developers in accordance with the Councils waste policies. 

This role at Bedford Borough Council is ideal for a recent graduate or early careerist with a background and interest in environmental subjects, great communication skills and experience in providing excellent customer service. 

The role is offered as a placement through Change Agents UK. Change Agents UK Trading Ltd works as a non-profit sustainability employment business and is wholly-owned by Change Agents UK Charity. Change Agents UK have worked in Sustainability education and employment for 25 years, supporting our partners to create superb opportunities in sustainability, delivering real impact and change and providing training and skills support for our Change Agents on placement.? 

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We need:  

 A confident, enthusiastic and engaging communicator to work with local communities with a drive to making Bedford greener.?? 

This is a brilliant opportunity to actively engage with the community to encourage the involvement of all sections in recycling and composting schemes. You will be working with likeminded people and engaging with partners and the community on a range of challenges and opportunities. You will help to promote waste minimisation and have the opportunity to coordinate door stepping campaigns and other promotional activities. 

Do you have the skills and enthusiasm we are looking for to work within the Waste Services Team to develop your project skills in an environmental field?? 

Essential:  

• An enthusiasm for recycling and composting and an understanding of the waste services local authorities provide. 
• Educated to A-Level or Degree level in an environmental subject or have a minimum of equivalent experience working in a similar role? 
• Excellent organisational skills including good time management and ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines 
• Experience of communicating with members of the general public, particularly relating to promoting ideas or concepts 
• Highly literate and fluent in English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills? 
• High standard of numeracy skills including data analysis using Excel 
• High standard of IT proficiency including MS Office applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Internet Explorer 
• Problem solving abilities using logical, analytical and innovative thinking 
• A full driving licence 

Desirable:  

{What are the desirable extras a superb candidate might have? These will also be factored in to the screening process} 

• Knowledge of waste management operations and practices 
• Experience of building and maintaining productive working relationships with a wide variety of partners e.g. Housing Associations 

What’s in it for you? 

This is a pivotal time in the waste and recycling industry.  The Government is due to publish the results of their recent consultation into ‘Consistency in Recycling’ and it is expected to recommend significant changes to the waste services to be provided by local authorities to both domestic and commercial properties. This will be the first major review of waste and recycling services in almost 20 years and is likely to recommend a number of far-reaching changes required to help the UK meet its Zero Carbon target. This role is an opportunity?to help the council to develop its waste services for the community to ensure compliance with the new requirements, as well as communicate these new requirements to the community.? 

You will also be enrolled on to the Change Agents UK skills development programme where you can benefit from the online learning academy and workshops on Sustainability & Skills for the Future, Project Management, Systems Thinking & Creativity. 

Key responsibilities:  

1. Identify areas of low participation and/or poor capture of recyclable/compostable materials and target these areas with promotional campaigns. 
2. Promote waste prevention and reuse within households by seeking to influence behaviours, challenge habits and encourage a change in attitude. 
3. Plan and deliver promotional activities to the public and school visits around the Borough, raising awareness of waste services provided. 
4. Visit and survey households to assess property types, services required and advise residents on how to recycle and reduce their waste. 
5. Improve capture rates of kerbside recycling, reduce contamination, reduce total waste arising’s and public understanding of waste issues including responsible waste management. 
6. Introduce new schemes, a programme of door stepping and monitoring service performance information via the Bartec ‘Collective’ system. 
7. Assist with the implementation of new waste services/projects. 
8. Assist in production of reports as and when requested. 
9. Resolve crew reports and other service performance data provided by Collection Crews from the in-cab Bartec ‘Collective’ system and follow up on problems identified. 
10. Provide and maintain accurate records, both manual and electronic, for all aspects of the duties of the post and to produce regular reports and statistical data in connection with the duties of the post. 
11. Provide advice to Developers and the Councils Planning Team on the collection of waste from new developments and redeveloped properties. 

Details: 

CAUK reference:  2441 

Hours/Week:  37 

Work outside normal hours: Some work outside of normal hours, for which time off will be given in lieu. 

Annual leave:  26 days plus 8 bank holidays per annum pro rata 

Probation period:  1 month 

Reports to:  Shah Faisal 

Job offers will be subject to suitable right-to-work and reference checks and the successful applicant may be required to undergo a DBS check.? 

Change Agents UK is committed to reducing inequality, valuing diversity and enabling inclusion. We welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, particularly where there is under-representation. If you need additional support to enable you to complete the application process, please contact us.? 

Information on placement terms can be found at www.changeagents.org.uk/information-employment-terms 

How to apply  

If you wish to apply for this role, please submit a CV and short Covering Letter explaining your motivation for applying and briefly addressing the essential criteria for the role (up to 500 words) to applications@changeagents.org.uk? We also ask you to complete an optional Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Monitoring form; this does not form any part of the selection process but is used to help us monitor the effectiveness of our policy. Please specify in the email subject the job title you are applying for.? 

You are welcome to get in touch with us with any questions before applying – please email us at contact@changeagents.org.uk or call us on 01572 723419? 

Timetable: 

Application Deadline:  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a view to filling the position as soon as possible, so early applications are encouraged. 

Telephone Interview: By appointment 

Interview Date:  TBC 

Anticipated Start Date: ASAP 

Appendix 1: Change Agents UK Trading Ltd Opportunity Details 

Change Agents UK Trading Ltd is acting as an employment business as defined under the Employment Agencies Act 1973?and?will employ the?successful applicant under a contract of service for the duration of the placement. Should you have any queries or require any further information on?this role or?the services we provide please contact contact@changeagents.org.uk?or call 01572 723419.? 

Company Description

Bedford Borough is located within the East of England between Milton Keynes and Cambridge. It benefits from fast rail links with London and is well placed for access from both the M1 and A1. The local authority is a unitary council and has a directly elected Mayor. The Borough itself is largely centred on the town of Bedford which sits along both sides of the River Ouse, but it also encompasses a large rural area to the north of Bedford bordering with the neighbouring County of Northampton. 

More information about the Council including its structure, functions, plans and strategies can be found here: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-the-council/?? 

The Council has a long history of working with change agents and currently has three Change Agents working within the wider Environmental Services Department. Previous Change Agents have gone on to secure permanent roles both within the authority and with other employers.