Technical Lead - Recycling Assessment Methodology

Posting date:	22 May 2025
Salary:	£54,470 to £67,090 per year
Additional salary information:	National - £54,470 - £61,000 London - £59,900 - £67,090 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	02 June 2025
Location:	London
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	406562/5

Summary

DEFRA are currently establishing the Scheme Administrator for the new UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, which will collect fees from Producers and manage the administration of that money in the form of Grant payments to 440 Local Authorities across the UK.

Reporting to the Head of Government Relations, the Technical Lead will work with partners across the recycling and packaging sectors and with regulators and administrations across the four nations of the UK to deliver the Recycling Assessment Methodology strategy and approach.

This will include how and when all the levers available to the organisation are used to create a circular economy in the use and re-use of packaging. To enable this, the Technical Lead will also be responsible for supporting the Head of Government Relations in the design and operation of a strategic and influential governance function, representative of the recycling and packaging sectors.

This will underpin the delivery of an ambitious set of reforms to embed a circular economy. The post holder will help ensure effective decision making, collaboration and oversight of all aspects of the organisation’s work. The position will work closely with the Scheme Administrator leadership team.

About the Recycling Assessment Methodology (RAM)

The RAM is 10,000 words of highly technical packaging guidance.

The RAM is a fundamental element of the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, and needs to be able to provide robust and technical guidance and support to producers, and have a good network of stakeholders across the industry to support the RAM’s annual review cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Recycling Assessment Methodology strategy, roadmap and delivery.
• Lead the annual review and updating process ensuring the Recycling Assessment Methodology reflects developments in packaging design and materials collection, sorting, reprocessing and application.
• Liaise effectively with stakeholders such as trade associations, producers, devolved authorities and government agencies.
• Lead 4 nation and regulator alignment discussions.
• Help create clear and well-understood Recycling Assessment Methodology guidelines, ensuring governance sign off processes, including ensuring papers are excellent quality.
• Effective Recycling Assessment Methodology briefing – incorporating strong insight and analysis – for Board and Committee chairs.
• Lead industry events and presentations on RAM guidelines.
• Recognised Recycling Assessment Methodology subject matter expertise within DEFRA.
• Lead Recycling Assessment Methodology internal teachings.
• Managing the process for responding to enquiries about the Recycling Assessment Methodology and producers who may wish to challenge their Recycling Assessment Methodology result.
• Liaising with Regulators to support the effective regulation of Recycling Assessment Methodology assessments.

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