Deputy Head of North Waste Collection and Street Scene

Overview

The Deputy Head of North Waste Collection and Street Scene is responsible for the delivery of five frontline in-house statutory services across North Buckinghamshire: waste collection (domestic and commercial), street cleansing, grounds maintenance, waste fleet management and a newly developed waste transfer station.

The role provides indirect leadership to circa 180 employees, which includes frontline, supervisory and support functions.

The role identifies and implements service-wide operational improvements and developments, ensuring that services are delivered safely and to a high customer quality. The role requires the ability to work effectively within the political arena with multiple stakeholders, ranging from front-line staff to councillors.

The role will support strategic initiatives as defined by Services and Portfolio Priorities and provide solutions to emerging new legislation.

Salary up to £78,540

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

Our Communities Directorate – Neighbourhood Services delivers a wide range of essential, customer-facing services across the county that our residents, businesses, and visitors rely on every day. This includes Waste collection and disposal.

About the role

No two days are ever the same in this dynamic and fast-paced environment. As part of the Senior Management Team, you'll be at the forefront of both strategic planning and operational delivery.

The team takes pride in its ability to respond swiftly and professionally to the diverse and often complex challenges that come with managing a large, multi-faceted service. Whether it's shaping long-term service improvements or navigating day-to-day operational demands, this role offers variety, impact, and the opportunity to make a real difference. Key Accountabilities for the role:

• We are looking for someone who has experience of operating at a senior management level in a complex organisation, ideally within waste and in the public realm.
• Knowledge and understanding of Transport Management, in specific Operators Licence compliance is desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of Environment Permit compliance.
• Essential - Relevant degree, ideally in waste or environmental management or significant relevant waste management experience.
• Desirable - Waste management Certificate of Technical Competence (Level 4 in Waste Management Operations) (Managing Transfer Hazardous Waste (Level 4) and continuing competence

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

About you

Are you a motivated and enthusiastic professional with a passion for delivering high-quality frontline services? We’re looking for someone with the drive and ambition to lead and manage a key operational service for residents and customers in the North area of Buckinghamshire Council.

As the Deputy Head of North Waste Collection and Street Scene, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our services run smoothly, safely, and efficiently. You’ll be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, resolving complex challenges, and implementing innovative solutions that meet both customer expectations and legal requirements.

We’re seeking someone who:

• Brings energy, commitment, and a proactive approach to service delivery.
• Has a strong understanding of health and safety legislation and its application in operational environments.
• Can confidently take ownership of complex issues and deliver timely, effective resolutions.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment and can adapt to changing priorities with a flexible mindset.
• Demonstrates excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate teams and build strong working relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Responsible for the effective leadership, planning and co-ordination of the day to day statutory and non-statutory waste, street cleansing and grounds maintenance services across the North Buckinghamshire area. Ensuring that service is delivered safely and performance is to the highest standard (eg low missed bins) with high customer satisfaction.
• Lead, motivate and develop staff to create and maintain a highly competent and participative work environment and provide strong leadership to a frontline workforce.
• Provide expert advice in the field of waste and street scene services, supporting the implementation of strategic plans, annual service plan and aligning with budget setting.
• The role holder must retain a high level of understanding of both waste and transport legislation in order to provide technical advice to others, and must be committed to continuous professional development.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with Unions, Members, internal teams (finance, legal, waste strategy/disposal, HR, customer relations, communications and commercial waste) and external stakeholders.
• Accountable for the Environment Permit compliance of a dry mixed recycling Waste Transfer Station.
• Develop and present high quality business cases and options papers that meet corporate and service requirements.

Other information

Please see the attached job summary for further information on this role and person specification.

The Management team are currently office-based.

Number of positions available: 1

Closing date: Sunday 26 October 2025

Interview date: Monday 3 November 2025

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: John Mooteealoo [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day. 

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards
• Cemeteries and Crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment. 

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/