Waste Commissioning Lead Officer

Overview

Help shape a cleaner, more sustainable future for our communities. As our Waste Commissioning Lead Officer, you’ll drive the development and delivery of waste strategies and infrastructure, oversee complex contracts (including organics, ad‑hoc waste, Household Waste Recycling Centres, and Energy‑from‑Waste), and lead major programmes and procurements that improve services and value for money.

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.  

We’re part of Neighbourhood Services, Communities, working with partners and providers to deliver effective, efficient waste management for residents and businesses. Our team is dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement—ensuring our services not only meet today’s needs but also anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. By harnessing our collective expertise and resources, we strive to make Buckinghamshire a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable place to live and work.

About the role

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and deliver waste strategies, implementation plans, and consultation responses—interpreting trends and issues that impact services and partners.
• Lead complex programmes and procurements for waste infrastructure and service frameworks/agreements, managing commercial risk and supporting effective implementation.
• Commission and Contract Manage provider capacity and contract performance; setting standards, monitoring KPIs, analysing data, and driving continuous improvement.
• Provide expert advice to colleagues, customers, suppliers, and stakeholders; resolve complex queries and proactively address emerging contractual or service issues.
• Build strong partnerships, negotiating and influencing external stakeholders to secure high‑quality and high-profile, compliant delivery aligned with regulations and organisational priorities.
• Plan and organise work programmes, contribute to forward‑looking business and financial planning, and maintain robust records and risk registers through appropriate systems (e.g., contract management applications).

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

In this role, you will be at the heart of delivering an ambitious commissioning programme, we’re looking for someone with strong project management and contract management experience, capable of handle construction contracts and leading major infrastructure projects from inception to completion. You will collaborate with legal, finance, procurement and cabinet members, and engage with external suppliers and stakeholders to successfully re-tender and commission large disposal contracts. If you have a proven track record of delivering complex projects and thrive in a collaborative, dynamic environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Working arrangements: Office working two days per week across sites. Could be required to work at our Operational Waste Transfer Station in High Wycombe at times. Flexible working remainder of time. 

Closing date: 21st December

Interview date: 7^th January

Interview-type / process: Gateway Offices, In person

Contact details: If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Angeli Lotay - 07920 576842

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.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

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/