Waste Outreach Officer

Salary: £31,015 - £33,673 a year
Location: Stores Road Depot
Hours: 37 Hours a week
Closing Date:08 November 2026
DBS Requirement: Yes Basic
Contract Type: Permanent

We may be biased, but there has never been a more exciting time to work in waste. Forthcoming changes to how local authorities collect waste, as well as increasing awareness of the impact our consumption of stuff has on the climate, means there is much to do! This is your opportunity to make a difference to the local community and environment.
The Waste Disposal team are responsible for the management of over 100,000 tonnes of household waste collected from our residents and other activities across the city. We have a vacancy for a Waste Outreach Officer to join our small team, tasked with working with residents to encourage waste minimisation and recycling in the city. If this sounds like a challenge you’re interested in, we’d like to receive your application.

The Opportunity
In the role of Waste Outreach Officer , here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:
As a Waste Outreach Officer, you’ll form part of a small team tasked with bringing about a measurable reduction in household waste arisings through minimisation and recycling. This will also include food waste as part of our upcoming food waste recycling services. You’ll provide a presence across the city, actively seeking to engage householders on the topic of waste management.

You will help develop and deliver innovative solutions and campaigns to break down barriers and encourage behavioural change so that all residents play their part in minimising waste. You will work with the community and via a range of means – communication, education and engagement – encourage and persuade residents to reduce waste, benefitting the environment and boosting the finances available for priority services.

This role is a great opportunity for someone studying or working towards a career in environmental or social sciences as your main challenge will be customer engagement. You will help city residents to overcome barriers to responsible waste management and encourage behavioural change.
Our yearly impact:
- We visited around 1,200 homes to make sure residents had enough bins to manage their waste and recycling properly at home.
- We visited 2,200 homes to help residents recycle the right items in the right bins.
- We worked across 85 streets, speaking to residents face-to-face to improve recycling and encourage pride in their neighbourhoods.
- We attended 44 community events to give advice and answer residents’ questions on waste reduction and recycling.
- We delivered recycling education at 15 schools, inspiring young people to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Our team spend 5–7 hours outdoors each day in all weathers, working directly in the community to support households with waste and recycling.

About You
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have...

You will be a natural communicator and able to advise, guide, negotiate and persuade a range of audiences to prevent waste in the first place, or failing that maximise recycling and reduce contamination. This is a varied role and one in which you will have the freedom to make things happen. You should be independent, able to work under your own initiative, and able to plan and manage your own workload to deliver campaigns to deadline.
You’ll be comfortable working around waste, inspecting household and communal bins, and giving residents feedback in a professional and supportive manner.
No previous experience in Waste Management is required but you will be passionate about protecting the natural environment. This role would also suit someone with customer service, sales or with marketing skills/experience. If you have enthusiasm for this role and the transferrable skills, we’d love to hear from you.
A current full driving licence is essential.
This is a permanent role. Job shares and secondments will be considered.

Who We Are
At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.
Why join Derby City Council?
At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people.
Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle
Work-Life Balance
• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities
Learning and Development
• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing
• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training
Community and Inclusion
• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.
How to apply
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website.

The closing date for this vacancy is specified at the top of the advert. Applications received after midnight on the closing date will not be accepted.

Interview dates: 16th & 17th November 2026
Interview location: Stores Road Depot

Applying using your CV
We recognise that people apply for roles in different ways and want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you would prefer to apply using a CV rather than completing an application form, please complete the attached Declaration Form and send it, together with your CV, to danae.stefandi@derby.gov.uk

When applying by CV, please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. We strongly recommend that you also include a supporting statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification, as this will help us assess your suitability for the post.

Applications submitted by CV must include a completed Declaration Form to be accepted. The Declaration Form can be found at the bottom of this advert.

We also encourage you to complete the attached Equalities Form and return it to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk. This is entirely optional and will not affect the outcome of your application.

Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are available below.

Before submitting your application, please read our guidance on completing the application form and ensure your supporting statement clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review. The supplement may be reduced or withdrawn and will reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards.

The Council has a legal obligation to consider suitable redeployment opportunities for employees at risk of redundancy. Consequently, this vacancy may be withdrawn before the advertised closing date if it is filled through the Council's redeployment process.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK: 18001 01332 640844) or email recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk

Please see here for Job Description
Please see here for Person Specification

Please see here for Waste Management Flyer
Please see Declaration Form for CV Applications here
Please see Equalities Form for CV Applications here
Please see here for DBS Code of Conduct