Waste Operations Manager

Job introduction

You can also see our full list of employee benefits on our careers site here: Why you should work for us | West Northamptonshire Council.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to lead the delivery of a reliable, high-quality, and cost-effective waste and street cleansing service. This role is critical to ensuring the service meets all legal duties and aligns with the wider policies of the Council. You will play a key part in driving environmental improvements by reducing residual waste and increasing recycling rates across the district.

As the named Transport Manager for the Goods Vehicle Licence at Tove Depot, you will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with all licensing conditions. This includes managing fleet operations in partnership with maintenance contractors and overseeing the procurement of new vehicles in line with budget, safety, and environmental standards.

Developing and supporting the workforce is essential in this role. You will lead and mentor staff to uphold excellent customer service and rigorous health and safety practices. Your responsibilities will also include managing sickness levels to support wellbeing and minimise lost time, as well as handling HR matters such as disciplinary procedures, appraisals, and absence management in accordance with Council policies.

You will work closely with both the Waste Health and Safety Officer and the wider corporate team to embed a strong culture of health and safety across all operational activities. Ensuring that all staff are fully trained and that practices meet national and local health and safety requirements will be a central aspect of your leadership.

This is a vital and rewarding role for someone passionate about service excellence, staff development, and environmental responsibility.

Additional information

We are looking for a committed and knowledgeable professional with a deep understanding of waste and street cleansing operations, including the relevant statutory obligations. In this role, you will be expected to provide expert advice to both internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring that all aspects of the service operate within legal and regulatory frameworks.

You will bring substantial knowledge of transport operations and a thorough understanding of transport law, enabling you to oversee the safe and compliant use of the Council’s fleet. Your role will involve close collaboration with the Fleet Manager to ensure all vehicles are properly maintained, fit for purpose, and able to meet the operational demands of the service. Your insight into vehicle and transport issues will be essential in delivering efficient, legally compliant, and high-performing services across the board.

Company information

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

Hear more from our Chief Executive, Anna Earnshaw, about what its like to work at West Northants Council.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential.  We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner

The following film was created by us to communicate our intentions - watch WNC colleagues explain what DEI means to us.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

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