General Operative- City and Neighbourhood Services in Belfast

Responsible to the relevant line manager for the undertaking of duties utilised in Waste Collection, Open Spaces and Streetscene (OSS) Services work to include areas such as streets, entries, parks, playing fields, landscaped areas, open spaces and waste facilities either individually or as part of a team. Ensure that all refuse and recyclable material is removed from household, industrial and commercial premises such as houses, shops, schools, business premises for appropriate disposal. Remove and transport priority waste to the designated transfer or disposal site. Ensure the segregation of waste to specified areas and locations for safe/special disposal e.g. fridge freezers and other items for recycling. Carry out priority cleansing duties that will enhance the appearance of the public realm such as street cleansing, land clearance, street washing, cleansing of street furniture, gum removal, graffiti removal, and fly poster removal or obliteration.

Responsibilities

• Safely collect and load all domestic, commercial waste and priority waste as identified by management, for transport to the designated transfer or disposal site. This includes the cleansing of priority waste as required.
• Undertake any inspection process required to ensure that materials presented for collection, recycling and composting are not contaminated by non-appropriate materials, this will include both pre and post emptying of the receptacle.
• Undertake appropriate measures to identify premises not adhering to proper procedures for presenting materials for recycling, for example, contamination, not suitably presented, not leaving out receptacle and inform the occupiers as required, note vacated or new domestic or commercial properties, provide supervisors with the necessary reports on such premises.
• Undertake assessments of specific waste collections, collating required information and report problem areas to the call-centre and/or appropriate supervisor.
• Assist with any promotional activities designed to encourage the public to recycle, including personal contact with the public, leaflet drops, attachment of container stickers, etc and assist with any public survey work as required.
• Ensure that all operations are carried out with due regard to property and with minimum disturbance to members of the public, hence waste/recycling containers etc should be emptied and returned to their proper location undamaged.
• Ensure that work is carried out in an effective manner, ensuring that all spillages, residues, loose and bagged waste are cleaned up and work areas are left in a high standard of cleanliness on completion of operations.
• Report back accordingly to the appropriate line manager on completion of the days route and to inform management of any unfinished work, access problems or problems encountered, report damaged containers, lifts or other equipment.
• Safely collect, separate, load or store any segregated waste or street arisings as identified by management, for transport to the designated transfer/disposal site.
• Use and operate any equipment and associated materials as required. Ensure the safe use and storage of such equipment and to report any defects to management in a timely manner; for example, waste/recycling container lifts, tail lifts, weighing equipment, hand truck, brushes, shovels, strapping equipment, power wash, gum machine and generator and safety equipment.
• Assist the mechanical sweepers as required by sweeping litter on footpaths into road channels.
• Cleanse pole mounted and freestanding litter bins, peg gullies for water drainage to the required standard.
• Assist with manual and mechanical snow clearance, gritting of predefined areas and sweeping leaves (using leaf blowing or collection equipment) and to distribute waste bags as required.
• Carry out cultural operations, e.g. the planting of trees, shrubs and plants, turf and seed sowing, grass cutting, hedge cutting and pruning.
• Operate tractor mounted equipment, powered hand tools and light plant as required and to maintain all tools and equipment in a satisfactory condition including the cleaning of hand tools and basic cleaning and maintenance of lawnmowers.
• Assist in the development of horticultural schemes, carry out the associated labour such as soil cultivation, manuring, site preparation and construction.
• Load, unload and move equipment and materials such as mowers, barrows, plants, soil, fertilisers, horticultural tools and sundries.
• Carry out the application of chemical pest control methods including calibration of sprayers and identification of a range of pests, diseases and weeds.
• Maintain games facilities and areas including spiking, scarifying, top-dressing, fertilising and also marking of games areas and erection/dismantling of posts.
• Maintain the general safety of users on site, ensure orderly conduct and prevent misuse and nuisance to other users and local residents.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience: Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of application forms, be able to demonstrate on the application form, by providing personal and specific examples, at least one years relevant experience in each of the following areas:

• dealing with members of the public; and
• an awareness of health and safety issues, including the safe use of machinery and, or equipment OR including complying with correct PPE (Personal protective equipment) and manual handling.

• Communication skills: good basic handwriting and comprehension skills with the ability to complete standard forms clearly. Effective oral communication skills with the ability to listen to others, assimilate information.
• Customer care skills: good inter-personal skills with an awareness of the importance of providing excellent customer care and creating a good impression to enhance the reputation of the council when in contact with members of the general public.
• Team-working skills: the ability to work on own initiative and with others to contribute to the effective meeting of team objectives.
• Work-planning skills: the ability to make decisions on a day-to-day basis in relation to personal working methods and requirements. The ability to prioritise work tasks and to understand and implement work programmes to ensure satisfactory completion.
• Health and Safety awareness: an understanding of health and safety responsibilities in relation to self, other employees and members of the public in a high-risk working environment.

Area: All of Northern Ireland. Closing date: 13 Feb 2026.