Waste and Recycling Contracts Officer

Suffolk County Council are looking to recruit a Waste and Recycling Contracts Officer to join our team-based in Ipswich, Suffolk. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £40,777 per annum (pro rata for part time).

At Suffolk County Council, we believe that when our people grow, our communities thrive. As a Waste and Recycling Contracts Officer in the Waste Management Team, you will find opportunities to develop your skills, make a meaningful impact, and shape the future of Suffolk. Reimagine the possibilities.

Would you like to work in an interesting, varied and rewarding role? Do you have recent experience of contract management? Are you passionate about sustainability, recycling and improving environmental outcomes in Suffolk?

This is a business‑critical role, managing waste and recycling service contracts to ensure that services are delivered in line with contract requirements. You will develop and maintain relationships with all contractors, building a comprehensive knowledge of the contract documents that support the delivery of services. You will be supported by a positive and proactive team that is well established and highly regarded in the waste industry.

• Client managing the day‑to‑day delivery of high value, highly specialised and highly interdependent waste and recycling services through numerous contractors and complex contracts.
• Proactively manage day to day contractor performance to ensure the services are delivered in line with the council's expectations and contractual requirements, negotiating, seeking continuous improvement and managing any risks / failures / concerns, communicating these to senior management and escalating where appropriate.
• Establish and maintain key working relationships with relevant contractor representatives to ensure good communication and facilitate resolution of service issues and ensuring good working relationships between contractors.
• Lead and manage projects, or participate in project teams as a technical expert to, for example, procure or mobilise new contracts, deliver reductions in service costs and/or implement performance and infrastructure improvements to waste and recycling services and facilities and improve the customer experience.
• Support specialist service functions, such as business continuity planning/emergency response; maintaining records of service property estate; managing property, responding to development applications, Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations and other queries, dealing with property leases and other legal issues associate with contract management.
• You will be expected to manage waste and recycling service contracts and contractors, working with a dedicated and established team to ensure that all elements of the services are delivered to the highest possible standards for the benefit of the Council, Suffolk residents and the wider environment.

• Recent experience of day‑to‑day management of service contracts, preferably in the waste and recycling services sector.
• Experience of successfully developing and maintaining strong, successful relationships with contractors, stakeholders, other agencies and organisations.
• To use initiative and take responsibility for developing and achieving actions and communicating effectively with all stakeholders.

The waste management team delivers the council's statutory duties as a waste disposal authority, i.e. the transfer, treatment and disposal of municipal waste, recycling, organics and other waste materials as well as the provision of a network of recycling centres and the closed landfill estate. The team works closely with other agencies, most notably the District and Borough councils responsible for waste collection (making up the Suffolk Waste Partnership), to ensure the smooth, effective and efficient delivery of these high profile, universal services.

The team is also involved in projects and communications to influence public attitudes and behaviours in relation to waste,…