Lead Project Officer (Waste)

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and driven Lead Project Officer (Waste) to join our Waste Collection Programme team. This is an exciting opportunity to lead the project management of our Waste Collection Procurement Programme, helping to shape how future waste collection services are delivered, improved and transformed. You will play a pivotal role in delivering innovative, value-for-money solutions that enhance environmental outcomes and improve services for residents.

If you have a proven track record of delivering complex projects and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a fixed term / secondment opportunity until 31^st March 2028.

About us

Neighbourhood Services sits within the Communities Directorate, delivering essential frontline services that directly impact residents’ day to day lives. Our ambition is to provide modern, efficient and customer focused services that support thriving communities across the county. As we commence our transformational procurement and mobilisation programme, this role offers the opportunity to help shape the Council’s strategic direction.

Our Waste Collection Programme team sits within Neighbourhood Services and leads the delivery of this key strategic procurement.

• We are a collaborative, forward-thinking team focused on continuous improvement and innovation across waste services.
• The team works closely with a wide range of internal colleagues, external advisors, and stakeholders to deliver key programme outcomes.
• You’ll be joining a supportive environment where knowledge sharing, professional growth and teamwork are encouraged.
• We are committed to delivering high-quality services that provide value for money while meeting environmental and legislative requirements.

About the role

As Lead Project Officer (Waste), you will lead and manage a programme of waste-related projects, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality expectations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading a complex waste programme, supporting future service delivery procurement and mobilisation
• Managing projects using recognised methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2), ensuring robust planning, risk management and reporting arrangements are in place.
• Building strong relationships with stakeholders, influencing decisions and driving collaborative solutions across the organisation and with external partners.
• Monitoring performance, budgets and delivery against agreed outcomes, providing clear reporting and recommendations to decision-makers.
• Identifying opportunities for service improvement and innovation to enhance waste services.

This is a highly varied and strategic role where no two days are the same. You will have the opportunity to shape future service delivery, influence key decisions and deliver tangible environmental and operational improvements.

We offer opportunities for professional development, and the chance to work on impactful projects that make a real difference.

About you

We are looking for a skilled and motivated professional who can lead complex projects and build strong partnerships.

You will have:

• Proven experience of managing complex projects and delivering outcomes to time, cost and quality standards.
• Significant experience within waste management, including procurement, with a strong understanding of legislation, policy and best practice.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies (PRINCE2 or equivalent).
• Excellent communication, collaboration, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop practical, effective solutions.
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

A relevant degree or equivalent experience, and a project management qualification are expected.

Other information

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

The role will require agile / flexible working from our Council offices in Aylesbury and High Wycombe, as well as working from home. As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you will need access to the Council network, which can be via home or office locations. The team works in a hybrid way, with an expectation of office attendance a couple of times per week, increasing as required to meet business needs.

Number of positions available: 1 (a fixed term / secondment until 31^st March 2028)

Closing date: Wednesday 28th May 2026 (midnight)

Interview date: Friday 5^th June

Interview process: In person - competency based interview

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact Claire Oakins

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 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.

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/