Waste Management Assistant (Service Change)

Post: Waste Management Assistant – (Service change)
Location: Dingwall/Inverness with Hybrid working
Hours: 35 hours per week
Duration: Fixed term until end January 2025
Service: Communities & Place
Grade: HC 6 (£27,227.20 to £30,375.80)
Contact Name: Imogen Percy-Bell
Contact email: [email protected]

To support the roll-out of new kerbside waste and recycling services associated with the
Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF) award from The Scottish Government.

The postholder will be required to successfully engage with the public throughout the Highland
Council area to promote the Council’s new waste and recycling services, and to provide advice
on sustainable consumption.

With the introduction of new recycling services across the region, this project will help to
increase the recycling rate in Highland, accelerating the Council’s progress towards achieving
its recycling commitments and net zero targets.

This will be a dynamic and fast-paced project delivering substantial environmental benefits
working alongside a supportive and experienced team.

Job Description – Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support the roll out of the new waste and recycling services across the Highland Council
   region:
   1. provide advice and support to residents during the distribution of new wheeled bins,
   2. Provide advice and support to residents and businesses when the new waste and recycling
      collections are introduced to maximise participation.
2. Assist with engagement activities including door knocking, delivering talks to communities
   and attending community events to promote the use of the Council’s new kerbside waste and
   recycling collection services, Household Waste Recycling Centres and Recycling Points.
3. Deliver waste educational talks and activities at schools and colleges across the region.
4. Carry out monitoring and reporting on the recycling and waste collection services.
5. Provide support and advice to householders, businesses and school children on waste
   prevention and sustainable consumption.
6. Assist with the creation and development of social media content, communication materials
   and updates on our website.
7. Assist with administration processes, including record keeping, preparation of
   correspondence and liaison with relevant colleagues and external stakeholders.
8. Respond to a high volume of enquiries via e-mail, and telephone.

Other Duties

The postholder may be required to undertake any other duties appropriate to the level of the
post. Duties and responsibilities will vary from time to time.

Special Features:

Due to the nature of the work you will be involved in, this role will require working outwith
normal office hours, with early morning starts, including some weekend working. You will be
expected to travel for work throughout the Highland region (vehicle will be supplied) with
planned overnight stays.

Person Specification

Essential Attributes

1. Ability to communicate and motivate a wide range of audiences including householders,
   community groups, businesses and children to bring about behavioural change.
2. Experience in one or more of the following: waste and recycling,
   community engagement, customer services or a communications role.
3. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with some creative flair, including
   presentation skills.
4. Excellent knowledge and ability to make proficient use of ICT including Excel and Word,
   including preparing Power Point presentations.
5. Ability to present complex subject matter, orally and in writing, with attention to detail.
6. Ability to organise and plan activities to meet deadlines and achieve targets, including
   managing your own workload and multi tasking.
7. Good problem-solving skills and solution focussed.
8. Ability to contribute to a successful team and to build successful working partnerships.
9. Passion for environmental issues.
10. You will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations
    within Highland to meet the operational requirements of the Service, possession of a clean
    driving licence is therefore required.

Further Information:

You should be a team player by nature, with excellent communication skills and keen to learn.
Self-motivation, with the ability to work on your own initiative is essential.

Employee Benefits

The Highland Council is committed to their employees and offers an excellent benefit package
that can include:

1. Flexible working patterns including both full-time and part-time opportunities. We want to
   accommodate the right candidate for the post and we are able to assist life style choices and
   other commitments you may have. For example: seasonal compressed hours
2. Competitive salary with an incremental scale and annual pay review.
3. Wide range of learning and development opportunities with an annual review to discuss
   career opportunities and progression.
4. 27 days paid holiday plus 7 Public paid holiday (pro rata for part-time staff), rising to
   32 days paid holiday (pro rata for part-time staff) after 5 years continuous service at the
   commencement of the next leave year.
5. Pension Scheme, including employers contribution of 19.5%
6. A genuine commitment to the health and wellbeing of our employees with access to the new
   Employee Assistance Programme.
7. Family Friendly staff policies including Parental Leave.
8. Employee discount/reward schemes from major and local retailers.
9. Cycle to Work scheme.

Health and Safety

Health & Safety is an integral part of any role within the Highland Council. As such we
would expect that all employees:

1. Become familiar with Violent Incident and Accident reporting procedures and comply with
   them.
2. Undertake a continual program of Risk Assessment in relation to their role within Highland
   Council.
3. Have an understanding of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace and
   familiarise themselves with the Highland Council’s Health & Safety Procedures.