Environmental Officer in Reading

We are looking for a proactive and community-focused Environmental Officer to help improve recycling performance and tackle environmental crime across the borough. This is an exciting opportunity to make a visible difference to the local environment while engaging directly with residents and businesses. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

Our Environmental Officers are at the heart of our community, spending most of their time out on the frontline and starting each day in the office. This is a Monday to Friday role with some scheduled evening or weekend events. Due to the operational nature of the work, the position is office-based rather than hybrid, though we offer flexibility where possible.

As an Environmental Officer, you will work within the Waste Operations team to:

• Increase recycling participation and reduce contamination in household recycling.
• Deliver waste minimisation and recycling improvement campaigns.
• Engage with residents, community groups and housing providers to encourage positive behaviour change.
• Analyse participation and operational data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Investigate environmental crime such as fly-tipping and littering, gathering evidence and preparing prosecution files where required.
• Conduct residential and commercial waste audits.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams, partner authorities and external organisations.
• Hold a full UK driving licence - you will have access to drive an RBC small van every day.

This is a varied role combining community engagement, data analysis and enforcement activity, offering the chance to see the real impact of your work on Reading's neighbourhoods. We are seeking someone who is an excellent communicator with strong customer service skills, confident in dealing with the public face-to-face, by phone, and in writing. You will be able to manage your own workload and meet deadlines in a fast-changing environment, and be comfortable using Microsoft Office and databases. Resilience and diplomacy are essential, particularly when handling complaints or difficult situations. Knowledge or experience in waste management, recycling, or environmental services is desirable. We are looking for someone committed to equality, sustainability, and maintaining high standards of customer care.

You will be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you will also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency.
• Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
• Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
• Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you will get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment. A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities.
• Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Road, Reading.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.