Waste Management Assistant – Waste Awareness (Caithness)

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

Job Purpose

To successfully engage with the public throughout the Highland Council area to promote the
Council’s recycling and waste services, and to provide advice on sustainable consumption.

To assist with the administration and promotion of both
the Business Waste Collection Service & Garden Waste Collection Service. 

Job Description – Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist with engagement activities including door knocking, delivering talks to communities
   and attending community events to promote the use of the Council’s kerbside recycling service,
   Household Waste Recycling Centres and Recycling Points.
2. Deliver waste education talks and activities at schools and colleges across the region.
3. Assist with administration of both the Business Waste Collection Service and Garden Waste
   Collection Service, including engaging with customers, record keeping, preparation of
   correspondence and liaison with relevant colleagues and external stakeholders.
4. Carry out monitoring and reporting on recycling and waste collection services.
5. Support the roll-out of new waste and recycling collection services introduced across
   Highland region.
6. Provide support and advice to householders, businesses and school children on waste
   prevention and sustainable consumption.
7. Assist with the identification and investigation of any breaches in Duty of Care waste
   legislation as set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990
8. Assist with the creation and development of social media content.
9. 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, there will be some working outwith
normal office hours including some weekends. 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. Previous experience in community engagement, customer services or a communications role.
3. Good analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to apply national regulations
   and Council policy to complex situations
4. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to present complex subject matter, orally and in writing
6. Good knowledge and ability to make proficient use of ICT including Excel and Word
7. Ability to organise and plan activities to meet deadlines and achieve targets.
8. Ability to contribute to a successful team and to build successful working partnerships.
9. 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. Self-motivation,
the ability to work on your own initiative and the resilience to work under pressure to meet
agreed deadlines are 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.