At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in waste collection, ensuring safety and efficiency while making a positive environmental impact.
- Company: Join Durham County Council's Waste and Recycling team, committed to sustainability and community service.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, discounts, and a supportive work environment focused on your growth.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for training and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while working outdoors and leading a dedicated team.
- Qualifications: Valid driving licence, supervisory skills, and a passion for customer care and teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 28142 - 31022 £ per year.
Are you an experienced driver with strong leadership skills? We’re looking for a Non-HGV Driver Chargehand to join our Waste and Recycling team. In this role, you’ll lead a crew, work outdoors, and play a key part in keeping County Durham clean and sustainable. If you want a practical, hands‑on job where your efforts make a real difference every day, this could be the opportunity for you.
NEW FOOD WASTE COLLECTIONS
By March 2026, all councils in England must provide weekly food waste collection for households. This is vital for the reduction of landfill waste and the creation of a cleaner, greener future. Food waste in landfill emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Separate collection allows conversion into renewable energy and compost, reducing emissions and supporting sustainability. Our Waste and Recycling teams are essential for implementing these changes, ensuring compliance and helping communities transition smoothly.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Our Waste and Recycling service plays a vital role in keeping County Durham clean and sustainable. We’re committed to delivering dependable, timely collections for homes and businesses across the county. As a Chargehand, you’ll take the lead, driving a non‑HGV refuse collection vehicle (up to 7.5 tonnes) and guiding a small, dedicated team to complete daily routes safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards. Your responsibilities will include:
- Driving and carrying out safety checks on your vehicle.
- Leading and motivating your crew to deliver high‑quality service.
- Maintaining vehicle safety and cleanliness.
- Ensuring waste and recyclables are collected and transferred correctly.
- Supporting recycling initiatives and resolving contamination issues.
- Providing excellent customer care and advice to residents.
Working hours:
Core service window: Collections typically run between 07:00 and 17:00, including pre‑start checks. Flexibility: Hours may vary to support service demands and adverse weather. Standard hours are across a four‑day working week, with occasional weekend or Bank Holiday working when required. Contractual overtime applies to this role.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
To succeed in this role, you’ll need:
- Essential qualifications: Current Valid driving licence (category C1 minimum), Driver CPC Qualification card (current in date), Digital Tachograph Drivers card (current in date), Relevant training in an associated discipline, Experience of driving non-HGV vehicles, knowledge of road and traffic regulations, and experience in operational work.
- Knowledge of waste or environmental services and working with the public is important.
- Skills: Supervisory ability, record‑keeping, good verbal communication, and the ability to work independently.
- Personal qualities: Commitment to customer care, teamwork, flexibility, and enthusiasm.
Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. If successful, you will be required to undertake and pass an in‑house driving assessment as part of our pre‑employment checks before any offer of appointment can be confirmed.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held (to be confirmed). We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), a wide range of discounts through the Vivup lifestyle savings platform, and membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme. We invest in your future with structured training, mentoring, and support to help you achieve your goals. Whether you want to upskill, gain new qualifications, or take on more responsibility, we’ll provide the tools and guidance to help you succeed.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
HOW TO APPLY
Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. For guidance on completing your application, visit our website. If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27 (option 4) or via email RecruitmentNE@durham.gov.uk. All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates.
Waste Recycling Non HGV Driver Chargehand in Peterlee employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Durham County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and community impact. As a Non-HGV Driver Chargehand, you will enjoy a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and access to structured training and mentoring, all while playing a vital role in promoting sustainability in County Durham. Join us to make a meaningful difference in your community and develop your career in a diverse and inclusive environment.
Contact Details:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Waste Recycling Non HGV Driver Chargehand in Peterlee
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We think you need these skills to ace Waste Recycling Non HGV Driver Chargehand in Peterlee
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for a role in environmental engineering tech, make sure to highlight your technical skills like CAD software proficiency, data analysis, or modelling techniques. These are essential for the job and should stand out in your CV and cover letter, showing how you can contribute to projects at Kirklees Metropolitan Council.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Kirklees Metropolitan Council
✨Brush Up on Environmental Regulations
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