Environmental Action Operative

Job title:

Environmental Action Operative

Salary: A1/B1 £ 24,413 - £25,989

Hours:

37 hours, Monday – Friday

Contract:

Full time, permanent

Location:

Cross Green, Leeds

As an Environmental Action Operative, you’ll thrive on helping keep our neighbourhoods clean and tidy.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

• Able to quickly learn new tasks and follow instructions/route sheets
• Able to use basic hand tools and equipment safely, efficiently and skilfully
• Able to work to deadlines to high standards in terms of time and work quality
• Able to work outdoors for long periods and in all weather conditions/at unsocial hours with appropriate protective clothing/equipment
• Able to carry out work which requires on going considerable physical effort possibly with some heavy lifting

As our next Environmental Action Operative, you’ll be a key member of a local Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team working together across an area of the city. As part of that team, you will be expected to carry out a variety of street cleansing functions including litter picking, fly‑tip removal and some basic grounds maintenance. You may also be required to help empty litter bins and assist with the collection of unwanted bulky items from households.

The job description and specification will provide you with more detail about the job, but we want people who are able to carry out the types of physical work described above and enjoy the challenge of working outside and in all weathers!

Our teams work as part of an overall “Team Leeds” approach within the Council. It is important that you are able to buy into that ethos and play your role in working effectively with Council and other public service colleagues to maintain clean and safe streets and open spaces. We also value the role local communities play in helping keep their neighbourhoods clean and tidy, and you will provide them with help as required;

for example, supporting local Litter Free Leeds volunteers with the collection of purple bags they have filled with litter.

You will be supported in your role with relevant training and development opportunities. For example, this will include training relating to the manual handling/lifting, use of power tools, handling of hazardous materials and other health and safety issues. You will undertake all work in accordance with health and safety procedures and report defects or safety concerns you identify to the appropriate supervisor/manager.

As a front facing representative of the Council, it is particularly important that you are friendly, customer focused and live the Council values.

You must be prepared to work from any number of zonal bases/areas throughout the City depending on the team you are placed in.

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Job purpose:

To work as part of a multi‑skilled local crew providing a range of environmental services to local communities. To show initiative, commitment and enthusiasm to ensure the services provided make a difference by supporting and working with residents and local businesses to keep their neighbourhood clean and improving behaviours in relation to disposing of their waste responsibly.

To carry out a range of physical tasks to improve the environmental condition and appearance of neighbourhoods on any land as directed, including:

• Lift and remove all detritus from all land as directed that can be achieved by hand brushing/sweeping and manual sweeping equipment. To include offensive detritus such as faeces, vomit, blood and dead animals.
• Empty/re‑bag and effectively clean litter bins and liners and to…