The Role

• Are you keen to help reduce waste and improve our recycling services and carbon performance?
• Are you looking for working arrangements that enhance your work-life balance?
• Do you have skills and experience relevant to local authorities, waste management and/or providing project support?

If your answers are yes, we want to hear from you!

We are looking for a Waste Project Assistant to help deliver waste related projects and trials in the boroughs of Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth. You will help to deliver our climate and environment related strategies and action plans by helping to reduce waste, increase re-use and improve the delivery of recycling services along with related performance. 

The successful candidate will be able to work from home frequently in accordance with Council policies and equipment will be provided to enable this. However, you will also be required to travel to locations around the borough regularly, visiting blocks of flats, estates, streets and businesses to make assessments and to meet with stakeholders. This may also involve early morning site visits to monitor levels of participation in recycling services.  Access to facilities at Council offices in Twickenham and/or Wandsworth with equipment such as printers and laminators will be available when needed. 

This role is a fixed-term contract for one calendar year and you will be part of a small but friendly waste team within a large workforce, most of which serves both Richmond and Wandsworth Councils.

As a Waste Projects Assistant you will:

• Support the delivery of new and improved recycling services and projects designed to increase recycling e.g. helping to roll out new food waste recycling services and helping to improve participation and capture rates for existing recycling services.  This could involve helping to arrange the installation of communal food waste recycling facilities at blocks of flats, encouraging and supporting community composting projects, monitoring performance, delivering outreach to raise awareness and supporting the planning and delivery of recycling related communications.
• Plan and prioritise your own workload to assist in delivering projects within a defined timescale.
• Liaise with all relevant stakeholders including tenants and residents’ associations, property management agents, officers, waste disposal authorities, and contractors as well as local businesses to ensure smooth delivery of the projects.
• Develop and maintain large datasets including address data, contact details and proposals.

About you:
You will have:

• Knowledge and practical experience of delivering effective projects in a supporting role.
• Knowledge of local authority waste and recycling services, procedures and techniques.
• Experience of developing and maintaining large datasets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience of effective engagement with community groups and stakeholders.
• A clean full UK driving licence and/or be able to travel to sites borough wide on a regular basis.

You will be welcomed into a service area which delivers a range of waste and street cleansing related contracts and associated services.

Please submit the following:

• Your current up to date profile
• A supporting statement detailing why you are applying for the post and how you meet each of the criteria set out in the person specification.

If you would like an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact Michael Singham, Waste Strategy Manager on 020 8871 8506 during office hours. If you are having difficulty in applying online, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk to see if we can offer alternative arrangements for you to apply.

We recognise the importance of having a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home, compressed or part-time hours, term time only, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

The role is 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday. You may on occasion be required to work outside of normal office hours (e.g. early mornings, evenings or weekends) if required.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: Sunday 12^th March 2023
Shortlisting Date: Week commencing Monday 13^th March 2023
Interview Date: Week commencing Monday 27^th March 2023

Useful Information:
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

The application process for this campaign will be anonymised.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils