Simpler Recycling Projects Coordinator

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help shape the future of recycling services across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland?

If you're passionate about project delivery, partnership working and making a real difference for local communities, this could be the role for you.

We're delighted that you're interested in working with us. You'll be joining the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership at a pivotal time as we respond to some of the biggest changes to waste and recycling services in a generation.

Working across Gateshead Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council, the Partnership is leading the delivery of significant national reforms that will change how recycling services are designed, funded and delivered. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in turning policy, funding and ambition into practical improvements that benefit residents across South Tyne and Wear.

The South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership is responsible for coordinating strategic waste and recycling activity across three local authorities.

National reforms, including Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), are creating new opportunities to improve recycling performance, introduce new services and deliver better outcomes for residents. The Partnership is also preparing for wider policy changes, including the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and evolving environmental requirements affecting local authority waste services.

As Simpler Recycling Projects Co-ordinator, you will play a central role in helping us deliver these changes. You will work with colleagues across operational services, communications, ICT, procurement, finance and external organisations to coordinate projects, manage risks, support decision‑making and ensure successful delivery.

Working under the direction of the Contracts Manager Policy, the postholder will translate statutory requirements, policy direction and funding conditions into clearly scoped, deliverable projects, coordinating activity across Gateshead Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.

NB: This is a fixed term position for 2 years. Interviews for this role are expected to take place Thursday 24th and Friday 25th September.

• Coordinate the planning and delivery of priority Simpler Recycling and pEPR-funded projects, and other associated partnership-agreed initiatives as may potentially arise during recycling reprocessing contract renewal preparations, for example the introduction of separate fibre collections.
• Translate legislative requirements, statutory guidance and funding conditions into clearly defined project plans, option appraisals and delivery pathways.
• Develop and maintain proportionate business cases, option appraisals and delivery documentation, setting out costs, benefits, risks, dependencies and expected outcomes.
• Coordinate activity across operational services, communications teams, ICT, finance, procurement and external partners to ensure projects are practical, integrated and deliverable.
• Support the Partnership to explore, appraise and, where agreed, progress enhanced recycling services for under-captured materials, including textiles, small WEEE and household batteries.
• Monitor project progress, performance and outcomes and provide assurance through appropriate reporting and escalation arrangements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and audit trails to demonstrate value for money and compliance with pEPR funding requirements.
• Identify, manage and elevate risks, issues and decision points through the Contracts Manager Policy and established Partnership governance arrangements.
• Support the transition of completed projects into business-as-usual arrangements where delivery responsibility appropriately transfers to operational or service teams.
• Support coordination of work streams arising from the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and domestic actions required to respond to Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) scope changes affecting residual waste incineration, working within…