Recycling and Waste Senior Operations Officer
| Posting date: | 26 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £44,075 to £50,269 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 April 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Are you an experienced operational leader ready to make a tangible impact on environmental services and sustainability? We’re looking for a Senior Operational Officer to play a key role in delivering a high-performing, efficient and customer-focused Recycling and Waste Service. This is an exciting opportunity to lead frontline operations, drive service improvements, and contribute to Reading’s environmental and climate ambitions.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
As a senior member of the Recycling and Waste Management team, you will support the Service Manager in delivering a reliable, compliant and cost-effective waste collection service.
You’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of services, leading supervisors and overseeing a large frontline workforce. From workforce planning and performance management to service improvement and stakeholder engagement, you’ll ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Key responsibilities:
Lead and manage daily Recycling & Waste operations, ensuring high service standards
Oversee and support 3 Supervisors and 70–80 frontline staff
Drive operational efficiency through workforce planning, scheduling and resource management
Monitor performance, manage absence, and lead on employee relations matters
Ensure compliance with health & safety legislation and safe working practices
Analyse service data to identify improvements and increase recycling performance
Support budget management (up to £4m), identifying efficiencies and managing resources effectively
Lead and contribute to projects that improve service delivery and environmental outcomes
Respond to residents, councillors and stakeholders, maintaining excellent customer service
Represent the service at meetings and community engagements
About You:
We’re looking for someone who combines strong operational leadership with a passion for delivering high-quality public services.
You will have:
Proven experience managing operations and leading large teams in a frontline/service environment
Strong knowledge of health & safety, performance management, and service delivery standards
Experience in workforce planning, scheduling and driving operational efficiency
Ability to analyse data and translate insights into service improvements
Confidence managing complex people issues and engaging with stakeholders
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and influence others
Knowledge of environmental services, waste management, or relevant legislation
A relevant qualification (or willingness to work towards one) in waste management or environmental services is beneficial.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Marcus Hermon - Recycling & Waste Services Manager at Marcus.hermon@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 9th April 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About The Role:
As a senior member of the Recycling and Waste Management team, you will support the Service Manager in delivering a reliable, compliant and cost-effective waste collection service.
You’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of services, leading supervisors and overseeing a large frontline workforce. From workforce planning and performance management to service improvement and stakeholder engagement, you’ll ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently.
Key responsibilities:
Lead and manage daily Recycling & Waste operations, ensuring high service standards
Oversee and support 3 Supervisors and 70–80 frontline staff
Drive operational efficiency through workforce planning, scheduling and resource management
Monitor performance, manage absence, and lead on employee relations matters
Ensure compliance with health & safety legislation and safe working practices
Analyse service data to identify improvements and increase recycling performance
Support budget management (up to £4m), identifying efficiencies and managing resources effectively
Lead and contribute to projects that improve service delivery and environmental outcomes
Respond to residents, councillors and stakeholders, maintaining excellent customer service
Represent the service at meetings and community engagements
About You:
We’re looking for someone who combines strong operational leadership with a passion for delivering high-quality public services.
You will have:
Proven experience managing operations and leading large teams in a frontline/service environment
Strong knowledge of health & safety, performance management, and service delivery standards
Experience in workforce planning, scheduling and driving operational efficiency
Ability to analyse data and translate insights into service improvements
Confidence managing complex people issues and engaging with stakeholders
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and influence others
Knowledge of environmental services, waste management, or relevant legislation
A relevant qualification (or willingness to work towards one) in waste management or environmental services is beneficial.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Marcus Hermon - Recycling & Waste Services Manager at Marcus.hermon@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 9th April 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.