Waste Contracts Apprentice

We’re looking for someone who is both energetic and has attention for detail to join our Waste Contracts Team in Neighbourhood Services. You’ll combine work-based training alongside working towards achieving an Advanced (Level
3) apprenticeship in Business Administration, that will help you towards a career in the field of waste management.

Working for one of the largest employers in the County, you will gain practical skills as well as experience of the waste management services that the Council provides. Waste Management plays a key role in addressing the Climate crisis and this role will help support the Councils efforts locally.

Our apprenticeships are designed to give you the hands‑on experience needed in a real job that brings out the best in you, with real responsibilities, real challenges, real projects and scope to grow your career.

The role sits within the Strategic Waste Management and Enforcement service. The team work collaboratively to provide core Council services that cover waste treatment, recycling, reuse and recovery operations provided through a number of multi‑million‑pound waste contracts. Contracts the team manage include the Energy from Waste (EFW) contract, the Household Recycling Centre (HRC) contract and Green, Food, Bulky and Wood (GFBW) contract.

Collectively the team are involved in a wide range of work from enforcement to contract management, procurements, communications, internal business / systems improvements, infrastructure projects, behaviour change projects and customer service. The wider team also covers the management of fly tipping, unlawful encampments, and traveller community enforcement. Working across the team means there are plenty of opportunities for learning and development in both a formal and informal capacity.

The team environment is fast paced, dynamic and supportive, we invest in ‘growing our own’ so there are excellent opportunities for career progression. The Team is friendly, approachable, and always up for the next challenge!

In this role you’ll be working closely with other members of the Strategic Waste Management and Enforcement team with a particular focus around the day‑to‑day management of the key Council waste contracts. Your work activities will focus on some of the following key areas:

• Site inspections
• Waste data recording and reporting – including the use of the Council’s Waste Data Management System and Waste Data Flow.

The site inspections will be undertaken with the Waste Contract Officers and will require regular travelling to the following locations:

• The 10 Household Recycling Centres,
• The High Heavens waste complex
• The Energy from Waste facility
• Waste audits at any one of 30+ waste end destination points
• Closed landfill sites.

The role will help support the wider team whilst giving you exposure to how the waste service operates. Whilst the role will focus on the day‑to‑day management of waste contracts it will also include gaining knowledge of procuring new waste service contracts, the delivery of waste capital schemes/infrastructure projects and communication/behaviour change campaigns.

All this will develop in you an understanding of waste management in a local government setting, focused on how the Council’s waste contracts work in real life and so deliver key Council services. Whilst this is going on you will also study to achieve the Level 3 apprenticeship throughout the duration of your time with us. For this we’ll give you time off during your working week for study and assessments - which means no evening or weekend study is required.

Skills required:

• Able to organise own work and achieve deadlines
• Good IT skills and the ability to use databases
• Able to communicate well verbally and in writing
• Able to use initiative and work independently with a good attention to detail
• Good standard of written work with accurate spelling and grammar

Personal Qualities:

• Enjoys hands‑on jobs that involve being out of an office as well as in an office environment
• Comfortable working as part of a team and playing an active role
• Able to get on well with a range of people
• Real ambition to develop your skills and experience
• Ent…