Waste Education & Engagement Coordinator in Gateshead

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi‑time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

The Highways & Waste team are responsible for ensuring that Gateshead is a safe and attractive place in which people can live, work and spend free time. From waste strategy, including collection and recycling to the maintenance of our highways and street lighting. We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Waste Education and Engagement Coordinator to play a key role in improving recycling across the borough. This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with residents and communities to raise awareness of recycling services, encourage positive behaviour change, and help reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal.

By supporting residents to recycle more effectively, reduce contamination, and make best use of existing services such as food waste, paper, and garden waste collections, the role will contribute to improved environmental outcomes and deliver real financial savings for the Council through lower disposal costs and increased recycling income.

What you'll get to do:

• Identify areas within Gateshead where contamination of recycling is taking place.
• Interrogate existing data held in Bartec to support the identification of areas requiring intervention.
• Carry out targeted door‑stepping and face‑to‑face engagement with residents to explain the service, including the use of surveys.
• Ability to work outside normal working hours to engage with different sections of the community.
• Monitor and target areas where recyclable materials are present in residual waste, contamination levels are high, or paper tonnages are low.
• Provide a coordinated approach to encourage positive actions and re‑engage householders who may have become complacent, such as ordering recycling containers.
• Undertake return visits to households to check progress, provide further advice, and educate residents using interactive techniques, including examining bin contents with the householder.
• Comply with all relevant Health and Safety requirements and Council policies and procedures.
• Assist with communications campaigns, including the production and design of recycling information, leaflet drops, roadshows, and attendance at key events and residents’ groups.
• Work closely with key staff within recycling services to develop an integrated approach.
• Support the WEEE recycling improvement project.
• Support green waste collections and encourage resident participation in the scheme.
• Respond to resident queries in a professional and timely manner.
• Undertake maintenance and repair of residual and recycling bins to provide refurbished, reusable, and serviceable bins.
• Promote battery recycling through designated return points.
• Work alongside partner agencies, private housing associations, and ethnic groups to promote and encourage recycling.
• Assist with the delivery of bins.
• Respond to allocated case files from GOSS.
• Support wider environmental awareness initiatives, including dog fouling, litter, and fly‑tipping.

What you'll bring:

• Category C1 Licence (ability to drive up to 7.5Tonne vehicles).
• Valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
• Communicating effectively (written and verbal).
• Proficient in Microsoft software packages.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Experience of working within the waste sector.
• Experience of dealing sensitively with customers.
• Strong organisational skills to manage workloads and meet deadlines.
• Effective problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Five GCSEs including Maths and English (or equivalent qualification).

What’s in it for you:

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future too.
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years, plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year, giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: We care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: A cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services.

Our commitment to you:

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How to apply:

You can apply online using the link below. If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via recruitment@gateshead.gov.uk.

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.