Waste Prevention Lead Officer

Overview

Are you passionate about reducing our impact on the environment and helping others do the same? An exciting new opportunity has arisen in our team for a permanent Waste Prevention Lead Officer.

You will lead the design development of waste prevention communications and engage with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You'll also provide professional advice on waste services and promote positive waste prevention behaviour change in customers through face-to-face engagement, events, activities and online content creation.

We welcome applicants who are passionate about behaviour change, waste prevention and recycling to develop and deliver proactive and innovative waste prevention projects.

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. 

The role sits within the Strategic Waste Management and Enforcement service. The team works collaboratively to undertake procurement of new service contracts, lead and deliver waste capital schemes, policy strategy reviews, behaviour change campaigns, manage a number of multi-million-pound waste contracts (energy from waste, household recycling centres) as well as deliver new waste infrastructure projects.

Within the team, we cover enforcement of fly-tipping, unlawful encampments and traveller communities. Collectively the team cover a wide range of work from enforcement to contract management, procurements, communications, behaviour change projects and front-facing customer service. Working within the wider team means there are plenty of opportunities for learning and development in both a formal and informal capacity.

The team environment is fast-paced, dynamic and supportive. We invest in our people, ‘growing our own’ so there are excellent opportunities for career progression. The Team are friendly, approachable and always up for the next challenge!

About the role

As Waste Prevention Lead Officer, you will lead the development and delivery of waste prevention and behaviour change programmes that support the council's environmental ambitions and contribute to increasing recycling performance across the county.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building effective relationships with residents, schools, community groups, Town and Parish Councils, housing providers, contractors and other council services.
• Planning and delivering presentations, workshops, roadshows and engagement events.
• Analysing waste data, survey results and composition analysis information to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintaining up to date knowledge of legislation, industry developments and best practice to inform service improvements and policy delivery.
• Monitoring budgets, invoices and project expenditure.
• Supporting procurement activities, grant administration and contract management processes.
• Producing reports, recommendations and performance information for a range of audiences.
• Investigating complex enquiries and complaints, providing expert advice and guidance where required.
• Ensuring all activities are delivered safely, effectively and in line with relevant legislation and council policies.

This role offers a varied workload, combining project delivery, stakeholder engagement, data analysis and service improvement within a fast-paced and evolving environment.

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

We are looking for an organised and motivated professional who can combine technical knowledge with strong communication and project management skills.

You will have:

• Experience working within waste management, recycling, sustainability, environmental services or a related field.
• Knowledge of local authority waste collection, treatment and disposal services.
• An understanding of waste legislation and policy, including the Environment Act and Simpler Recycling reforms.
• Experience of developing and delivering behaviour change, community engagement or environmental improvement programmes.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and use evidence to drive decisions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence engaging a wide range of audiences.
• Experience coordinating workloads, projects or tasks across a team.
• The ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience monitoring budgets, purchase orders and invoices.
• Good organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience of conducting risk assessments and promoting safe working practices.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about delivering positive environmental outcomes and helping Buckinghamshire residents reduce their waste and embrace more sustainable behaviours.

Other information

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

Salary £40,109 - £42,037 (G6)

Any desk primarily based in Aylesbury but own vehicle is essential as travel across Buckinghamshire will be required.

Possibility of some weekend and out of hours work.

Number of positions available: 1

Closing date: 02/08/2026

Interview date: w/c 17/08/2026

Interview-type / process: In person

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Rosie Fitt [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 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/