Cleansing Manager

Working hours: 37 hours per week. Some evening and weekend flexibility will be required to support our seven-day service.

Salary Scale SCP: 24-28 (£36,581 - £40,444 per annum), plus NJC annual pay award and Local Government Pension Scheme.

We’re looking for a confident, practical and people-focused Cleansing Manager to lead our frontline cleansing service.

This is a hands-on management role where no two days will necessarily look the same. You’ll be responsible for making sure our cleansing teams have the people, vehicles, equipment and support they need to deliver a reliable, safe and high-quality service across Bridgwater.

You’ll lead the Cleansing Assistant Supervisor, Cleansing Operatives and Road Sweeping Operatives. You'll be planning rotas and workloads, maintaining service cover and making sure standards are consistently met.

Role Summary

This is a hands-on management role where no two days will necessarily look the same. You’ll be responsible for making sure our cleansing teams have the people, vehicles, equipment and support they need to deliver a reliable, safe and high-quality service across Bridgwater.

You’ll lead the Cleansing Assistant Supervisor, Cleansing Operatives and Road Sweeping Operatives. You'll be planning rotas and workloads, maintaining service cover and making sure standards are consistently met, ensuring work is planned, resourced and delivered safely, efficiently and to a consistently high standard.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and service delivery

• Lead and manage the cleansing service, including rotas, workload allocation, leave, TOIL and cover across the seven-day operation.
• Set clear standards for performance, conduct, attendance, customer service and safe working. Complete one-to-one meetings, appraisals, probation and return-to-work meetings and address concerns promptly with HR support where required.
• Lead recruitment, induction and training and ensure employees are competent and authorised for their duties, vehicles and equipment.
• Plan and monitor bin emptying, litter picking, manual cleansing, HGV and 3.5-tonne road sweeping, needle collections and fly-tip removal.
• Manage cleansing standards across parks, play areas, roads, open spaces and the wider public realm and ensure urgent work is covered during absence.
• Planning and optimising routes to improve efficiency and service delivery utilising data to inform decisions.

Customer service, events and improvement

• Oversee the Cleansing Operations Inbox, ensuring enquiries and service requests are logged, allocated, completed and closed with timely updates.
• Respond professionally to residents, businesses, councillors and other stakeholders and use complaints, hotspots and recurring issues to improve routes and service delivery.
• Plan and lead cleansing for Council and community events, including staffing, vehicles, equipment and pre-event and post-event arrangements.
• Maintain accurate operational records and provide service updates, performance information and committee reports as required.

Health, safety, fleet and depot

• Ensure compliance with health and safety and environmental requirements, Council procedures, risk assessments, COSHH, PPE and safe systems of work.
• Prepare or review risk assessments and procedures, deliver safety briefings and investigate accidents, incidents and near misses.
• Oversee vehicle, sweeper and equipment checks, servicing, maintenance and defect reporting, including fleet compliance, operator licensing and driver standards.

• Maintain suitable stocks of PPE, fuel, consumables and materials and keep the depot safe, clean and organised.

Budgets, procurement and general duties

• Monitor operational costs and contractor use, identify cost pressures and support budget planning, quotations and procurement in line with Council procedures.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with contractors and external partners supporting the service.
• Work in accordance with Council policies and values, including confidentiality, data protection, equality and inclusion.
• Work flexibly for events, emergencies, severe weather and on-call arrangements where required and undertake other duties appropriate to the post.

This list is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Council. The postholder may be required to undertake other duties reasonably requested and consistent with the level of the role.

Other Information

External and Internal Contacts

• Work with councillors, residents, contractors, suppliers, employees and partner organisations.
• Communicate effectively in person, virtually, by telephone and in writing.

Working Environment

• Based at the Town Hall/ other sites xx.
• The Council operates a smoke-free workplace policy across all Council buildings.
• Promote equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of work.

Bridgwater Town Council Values

• Work in a way that reflects the Council’s values: