Class 2 Driver

Overview

40 hours per week, working 5 out of 7 days including weekend working (no weekend enhancement paid).

£32,898.46 pa (this salary is subject to a future pay award) - Permanent - Fulltime.

The role does not have a fixed service allocation and requires flexibility to work across different operational activities, vehicles and locations in line with business needs.

The role operates across a range of services and environments, including kerbside collection and the movement of waste, recyclable materials and containers between Household Waste Recycling Centres, transfer stations, processing facilities and operational depots.

Job Purpose

The Driver is responsible for the safe, compliant and efficient operation of heavy goods vehicles in support of Cheshire West Recycling’s operational services. The postholder operates as part of the wider operational team and is responsible for completing allocated tasks safely, efficiently and in line with agreed procedures. This includes the operation of specialist vehicles such as RCVs, hooklift and RoRo systems, where trained and authorised. The role requires effective use of digital systems and operational tools to support safe, compliant and efficient service delivery. The role requires a high standard of professional driving, safety awareness and operational discipline, ensuring vehicles, materials and environments are managed in a way that protects people, maintains service standards and supports overall system performance.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Service Delivery: Carry out driving and operational duties in line with allocated tasks, instructions and schedules, ensuring safe, timely and compliant service delivery across all operational environments, working with operational teams where required. Maintain site and route standards by addressing any spillages or loose material arising from operational activity in line with agreed procedures.
• Vehicle Operation: Operate HGV vehicles safely and legally in line with licence entitlement, training and company procedures, including RCV, hooklift and RoRo systems where authorised.
• Container Handling: Position, exchange and transport skips and containers safely and accurately, ensuring correct placement, stability and suitability for site conditions.
• Site and Operational Awareness: Work safely within a range of operational environments, including public highways, operational sites and depots, maintaining awareness of site risks, public activity and vehicle movements at all times.
• Professional Driving Responsibilities: Drive in a safe, controlled and considerate manner, maintaining compliance with road traffic legislation, tachograph requirements and company standards, while minimising environmental impact and disruption to communities.
• Vehicle Safety and Checks: Complete daily vehicle checks, defect reporting and basic vehicle care using approved systems, ensuring vehicles are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
• Vehicle Care and Presentation: Maintain the cleanliness and presentation of vehicles, ensuring cabs and external areas are kept tidy and vehicles are presented for cleaning in line with agreed standards.
• Health, Safety and Compliance: Follow safe systems of work at all times, including use of PPE, safe positioning of vehicles, and adherence to operational rules and traffic management arrangements. Challenge unsafe acts and report hazards, near misses or incidents.
• Reversing and Vehicle Safety: Ensure reversing is only undertaken where safe to do so, using trained assistance where required and following approved procedures.
• Incident and Near Miss Reporting: Promptly report all accidents, incidents, vehicle damage and hazards using approved systems and cooperate fully with investigations.
• Materials Awareness: Maintain a good understanding of waste types, contamination risks and handling requirements, ensuring materials are transported and managed correctly.
• Communication and Teamworking: Work closely with supervisors, site lead, site staff and operational teams, following instructions and communicating clearly to support safe and efficient operations.
• Customer and Public Interaction: Engage professionally with members of the public when working in operational environments, representing the organisation positively and following guidance on managing interactions.
• Digital Systems and Reporting: Use approved digital systems and devices to complete operational tasks, including vehicle checks, defect reporting, movement information and service records. Ensure all information is accurate, timely and recorded in line with agreed processes.
• Time and Attendance: Attend work as rostered, follow agreed working patterns and deployment arrangements, and participate in required briefings and debriefs.
• Fitness to Work: Attend work fit for duty at all times and only undertake tasks for which appropriate training and authorisation has been given.
• Training and Competence: Maintain required licences, CPC and training. Only undertake tasks for which the appropriate training and authorisation has been provided.
• Flexibility: Work flexibly across operational areas, services, vehicles and duties, supporting different activities as required in line with training and competence.
• Adhere to approved policies and procedures: Ensure work is delivered in line with CMS and ISO standards and take personal responsibility for handling personal and sensitive information in line with legislation and organisational requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications: Full UK driving licence, Category C (Class 2) licence, Driver CPC, Digital tachograph card.

Experience: Experience operating HGV vehicles in operational environments, experience operating a range of vehicle types (desirable), experience working in a safety critical or operational environment.

Skills and Aptitudes: Strong awareness of safety, risk and professional driving standards, ability to operate vehicles and equipment safely and accurately, good understanding of waste operations and contamination risks, ability to follow instructions, procedures and safe systems of work, reliable, punctual and well organised, clear and effective communication skills, professional attitude and ability to represent the organisation positively.

Other Requirements: Reflect Our Values through your actions and behaviours, willingness to work flexibly across operational roles and locations, commitment to health, safety, compliance, service quality, and community impact, undertake such work as may be required, consistent with the principal responsibilities of the role.

We are proud to be a Gold Award holder of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. We welcome applications from veterans, reservists, and members of the armed forces community, and are committed to supporting their employment and development. We will guarantee an interview for all ex-Armed Forces personnel, so please make our recruiter aware when placing your application with us.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £32,898.46 per year

Benefits: Company pension, Free parking

Application question(s): Experience using specialist vehicles: Hook Lifts, RO-RO systems and RCVs desirable

Work Location: In person