We are looking to recruit an Operations Supervisor who has proven experience in managing large teams of employees in a fast-paced environment. A vacant secondment post has arisen in a business-critical department.
This role is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the heavily regulated statutory and non-statutory in-house domestic and commercial waste collections across 92,000 properties with waste materials ranging from dry mixed recycling, refuse, food, garden, bulky, and clinical.
About us
Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
Recycling and Waste collections cover the whole of North Buckinghamshire with over 92,000 residents and businesses.
The Operational Management Team are responsible for delivery of waste collection services across North Buckinghamshire including domestic refuse, recycling, food, garden, clinical, and bulky collections, in addition to commercial refuse and recycling collections. The role involves shared directional management of 127 frontline operatives, from day-to-day delivery of the waste collection service, ensuring health and safety compliance, accident investigations, and performance management.
There is a close-knit and supportive team environment with a positive and upbeat culture as the team help one another to problem solve within the reactive environment. No two days are ever the same, and the Operational Management Team prides themselves on their ability to adapt and react professionally to the interesting and diverse challenges that managing a large operation brings.
The North Waste team operates in all weather conditions and will require the role holder to think outside of the box and adapt to such challenges, ensuring effective communication with key stakeholders is maintained and the service is delivered within service level agreements to a high standard.
There are training opportunities including gaining accredited qualifications within the waste industry and opportunities to undertake driver training qualifications.
We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic individual with the ambition and drive to deliver a key frontline operational service to the residents and customers in North Buckinghamshire to a high standard. Health and safety is key to maintaining our successful operation and the role holder will be expected to have knowledge of legislative requirements within the industry. The role holder must have the ability to take ownership of complex and sometimes challenging issues and apply innovative solutions to resolving them whilst meeting timescales. With a flexible approach, the role holder will ensure effective operational management of the service while complying with corporate and legal requirements and seeking improvements where possible.
As an Operations Supervisor within the North Waste Team, you will be joining a well-respected team within the Council and waste industry. As well as making a real difference to the communities that you serve, you will be offered a competitive rate of pay, generous employer pension contributions in line with the Government Pension scheme as well as discounts on travel and local facilities in Buckinghamshire.
As the face of the Council, Recycling and Waste operatives are seen by all residents and customers every day. Operations Supervisors provide bespoke on-street training with their teams. This involves monitoring collections crews while they operate in the county and providing feedback and training and ensuring compliance with health and safety and risk assessments.
About the role
The role holder must be confident and able to work in a high-risk and challenging environment as they are accountable for sensible and reactive decision-making that ensures the services remain fully compliant with waste and health and safety legislation.
The role holder will form part of a leadership team of 127 frontline collection crew and have direct line management of approximately 28 staff. This management involves but is not limited to, being able to design and deliver bespoke and technical training, complete accident and disciplinary investigations, deliver on KPI’s, and proactively manage sickness.
As one of five Operations Supervisors, the role holder will be required to be flexible in their working hours between an early and duty rota-based shift pattern, with a typical day starting at 6am if on the early shift and 9am on the duty shift. Hours of work are 37 hours per week including working on Saturdays and Sundays, again on a rota-based pattern or when required on the Saturday bank holiday ‘catch-up’ days each year.
* Responsible for effective leadership and co-ordination of the day-to-day statutory and non-statutory domestic and commercial in-house recycling and waste collection services across North Buckinghamshire. This involves both logistical and reactive planning of resources, including crew members, vehicles, and waste materials to ensure all statutory council services to 92,000 households are delivered in a safe and efficient manner with great customer service.
* Provide shared directional management of a large frontline team (127 total) in addition to direct management of around 28 crew members.
* Quickly problem-solve issues such as vehicle breakdowns, lack of staff, road closures, accidents, and others to ensure that the excellent customer service expected at a corporate level is not impacted. The role holder must ensure the operation runs smoothly and any challenges faced do not damage reputation.
* Managing Health and Safety and providing ongoing regular training of all employees. To complete risk assessments and safe systems of work and ensure they are regularly reviewed and up to date.
* Take part in a rota-based team structure which ensures that the early morning operational services are rolled out in a timely manner. This involves being a responsible key and alarm holder for a large Waste Transfer Station depot.
* The role holder will also be expected to build relationships with senior management and teams across the wider Council, for example, customer services and business support. The role holder will be responsible for attending meetings to provide detailed subject matter direction and collaboration.
* Responsible for thoroughly investigating accidents by collating qualitative and quantitative data from a broad range of sources and then producing high-level reports with recommendations which are reviewed and approved by senior management and Health and Safety team.
About you
* Desirable qualifications include a Level 4 Waste Management Certificate of Technical Competence, particularly in Managing Transfer Hazardous Waste, along with ongoing competence. Being trained in First Aid, a qualified manual handling trainer (POPs Coach), and NEBOSH certification are also favorable.
* Essential requirements are a Full Driving Licence, adherence to shift patterns (early/duty) as per a shift rota, and the flexibility and willingness to work out of hours, including one Saturday in every four.
Other information
Closing Date of Applications: 11 October 2024
Interviews to be held week commencing 21 October 2024
Formal Face to Face interview conducted with Deputy Head of Service, Waste Operations Manager, and Operations Supervisor.
This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
* All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions
We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.
Our values and culture
We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative, and Trustworthy.
By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:
* a fair and inclusive culture
* the chance to really make a difference to those around you
* health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders, and mindfulness workshops
* a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
* ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
* opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events
At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.
From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.
We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.
About the Business Unit
Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses, and visitors rely on every day.
This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:
* collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
* maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
* ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
* managing Country Parks
* leisure facilities, museums, theatres, and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
* licensing, cemeteries, and crematoria
The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.
We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious, and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work, and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.
We recognise and reward you
Hard work and success deserve recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops, and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme to those who are eligible and have passed their probation period. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva, and much more.
#J-18808-Ljbffr