Street Cleaning Operative

Street Cleaning Operative (Barrows/Labourer)

Grade 3 - £24,796 to £25,989 per annum

Help keep East Staffordshire clean, safe and welcoming — every street, every space, every day.

About Us

East Staffordshire Borough Council is committed to making the Borough a clean, safe and attractive place to live, work and visit. As the Principal Litter Authority, our Street Cleaning team plays a vital front-line role in maintaining highways, footpaths, public open spaces and local communities.

Using a mix of manual cleansing, practical equipment and modern recording tools, the team tackles litter, detritus, dog fouling, fly tipping, leaves, weeds and other environmental issues with pride and professionalism.

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and reliable Street Cleaning Operative to join our busy Environment team. This is a hands-on, outdoor role where you will help keep the Borough looking its best by carrying out manual street cleansing across highways, public open spaces and other areas of the public realm.

Your work will include removing litter, detritus, leaves, weeds, dog fouling, dead animals and fly tipping; emptying and maintaining street litter bins; collecting bulky waste where required; separating recyclable materials; and reporting defects, incidents or health and safety concerns promptly. You will also use hand-held devices to record cleanliness levels, litter bin capacities and other service information.

Key Requirements

We are looking for someone who takes pride in their work, enjoys being part of a team and shares our commitment to delivering a high-quality public service. You will be polite, approachable and customer-focused, recognising that you represent the Council while working in a visible, front-facing role.

You must be prepared to work outdoors in all weathers, walk long distances, carry out manual handling tasks safely, wear the correct uniform and Personal Protective Equipment, and follow all health and safety procedures. A positive “can do” attitude, good communication skills, the ability to use your own initiative and a calm approach under pressure are essential.

Skills and Experience

Previous experience in street cleansing, waste management or a similar practical outdoor environment would be advantageous, but just as important is your willingness to learn and work safely. Experience or training in manual handling, manual street sweeping, bin lift or compaction equipment, reversing assistant duties, or the use of hand-held devices would also be beneficial.

Additional Information

This role is 37 hours per week and on occasion there is a requirement to work overtime on Public and Bank Holidays and some weekends, to support the delivery of an efficient and effective public service.

This is a great opportunity to join an essential, well-regarded front-line service where the work you do every day makes a visible difference to East Staffordshire’s streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces.

Hours of Work: 37 hours per week

• Monday to Thursday: 7 am to 3pm
• Friday - 7 am to 2.30 pm

(with half an hour unpaid break each day)

Full details of the job role are detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification.

If you would like an informal chat about this opportunity, please contact Peter Clark (Operations and Fleet Manager) at peter.clark@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk or by calling 01283 508016.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 12 July 2026.

Additional Information

• Applications must include a written statement, in no more than 1,000 words, on how you meet the person specification for this role.

The Council is actively building diverse teams and welcomes applications from everyone including people of different ages, sex, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. ESBC is a Disability Confident Leader.

Important Notes for Candidates:

Visa Sponsorship

As a smaller local authority, we do not currently hold a sponsorship licence. We are therefore unable to issue Certificates of Sponsorship. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application as we are unable to support visa sponsorship.

Personal Relationships

A candidate for any appointment with East Staffordshire Borough Council who know of any family or close personal relationship with any Member or Officer, must disclose that relationship when completing an application form for employment.