Waste Reduction and Circular Economy Lead

Job Description

Job Title: Waste Reduction & Circular Economy Lead
Salary: £44,624– £52,038 per annum (pro rata if part-time)
Grade: F
Contract Type: Fixed Term - 3 years
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Full-time and part-time opportunities available

Join Thurrock Council’s Climate and Sustainability Team

We are seeking committed and forward-thinking individuals to join our newly expanded Climate Change and Sustainability Team. These roles offer exciting opportunities to shape Thurrock’s environmental future, drive innovation, and deliver meaningful change across waste, energy, and climate services.

About the Department

Thurrock Council’s Place Directorate is leading the charge on climate action, sustainability, and waste transformation. Our team is responsible for delivering the borough’s Net Zero ambitions, improving recycling rates, and embedding circular economy principles. We work collaboratively across departments and with external partners to ensure our strategies are data-driven, impactful, and community-focused.

About the Roles

We are recruiting for the following roles:

• Energy and Carbon Officer – Manage energy efficiency and emissions reporting across the Council’s estate.
• Waste Reduction & Circular Economy Lead – Deliver Thurrock’s Waste Minimisation Plan and circular economy initiatives.

Each role plays a vital part in delivering our climate goals, improving operational performance, and engaging residents and stakeholders in sustainable change.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for individuals who bring:

• Strong project and programme management skills
• Expertise in climate, energy, waste, or sustainability fields
• Advanced data analysis and reporting capabilities
• Experience working across departments and with external partners
• Passion for environmental leadership and public service

Essential Qualifications:

Relevant qualifications and/or professional memberships (e.g., IEMA) depending on the role. Please refer to the Person Specification for the role-specific essential qualifications.

DBS Check: Not required for these roles.

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 4th February 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 22nd February 2026

Interview Date: To Be Confirmed

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the roles or interview process, please contact:

Gary Crooks - Sustainability & Climate Strategy Manager

Email: gcrooks@thurrock.gov.uk

Tel: 07921 229745

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

If the Job Profile and Person Specification list any qualifications as essential, please also upload copies of those relevant qualifications.

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council