Waste Transfer Station Plant Operative

Job Description

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: Whetstone WTS LE8 6JL

Salary: £25,191- £25,590 per annum, based on a 37 hour week (pro-rata for part-time) (pay award pending)

Working Hours: 41.5 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 29th May 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Waste Management Delivery Service, as such Leicestershire County Council is looking to recruit to Plant Operatives to support in the operation of the Council’s Waste Transfer Stations (WTS).

Two positions are available, all positions are working full time (5 days per week which will usually be Monday to Friday, however, it may include working weekends, both Saturdays and Sundays at times. Bank Holidays that fall within working patterns could be mandatory but paid as double time). Varying hours worked between 6:45am and 6:00pm

Successful candidates will be usually based on Whetstone WTS; but all candidates must be prepared to be based at any of the three sites on a day-to-day basis (Loughborough and Kibworth).

2x Positions – Whetstone (Loughborough and Kibworth)

About the Role

You will be responsible for operating a variety of heavy plant and equipment that will include a JCB 5CX Waste master, loading shovels, telehandlers, and forklift trucks for the efficient and effective transfer of waste from busy WTS, in strict accordance with safe systems of work. The role will also involve maximising the recovery of recyclables within waste and safely controlling deliveries from private traders and district councils. The role is based in a busy transfer station and involves working outdoors. It is expected that the successful candidates will have previous experience of operating loading shovels and telehandlers at waste or construction sites. However, training may be provided to suitable candidates that have no previous experience of operating this type of plant. The role may require the candidate to work on the Recycling and Household Waste Sites when not operating plant machinery and all positions may at times require the candidate to work on the attached Recycling and Household Waste Sites when not operating plant machinery.

About You

To apply for this post, you must be able to evidence in your application how you meet the following criteria:

• A loading shovel ticket (training may be provided to suitable candidates that do not currently have a valid loading shovel ticket)
• Access to an appropriate vehicle and have a valid UK Drivers' Licence (or be able and willing to gain within a reasonable timeframe (12 months), access to vehicle and business insurance.
• A knowledge of waste transfer station operations
• A Health and safety awareness
• Effective time-management and problem-solving skills
• A basic level of IT skills, Maths and English at GCSE or equivalent
• A level 3 award in first aid at work qualification or be able and willing to work towards as necessary.

In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and to delivering accessible and inclusive services which meet the needs of all of our residents. You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of these commitments as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for this role.

Interested in Flexible Working?

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which may include part time working, job sharing, term-time working, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid working, depending on the requirements of the role and the service. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:

Lee Thomas (Waste Operations Officer)

Telephone: 07720 103500

Email: Lee.Thomas2@leics.gov.uk

Or

Steve Thompson (Waste Site Supervisor)

Telephone: 07907 720232

Email: stephen.thompson2@leics.gov.uk

How to Apply

At Leicestershire County Council we’re looking for top talent from all walks of life. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, and whatever your background - we care about what you bring to our organisation, not just what’s on your CV. That’s why we’ve designed a recruitment process that’s fair, accessible, and focused on potential. And with benefits that support people at every age and stage of life, we make sure you can thrive - both personally and professionally.

If you share our passion to make a difference for the people of Leicestershire, we’d love to hear from you. Click the apply button to submit your application, ensuring that you upload a supporting statement (maximum 500 words) that explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above. Without this information, we won’t be able to assess your suitability for the role, and your application will be rejected. For tips on how to write your statement, see the How to Apply section on our career site.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal: https://emss.org.uk/support.

By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.

About us

About Leicestershire County Council

At Leicestershire County Council, we're committed to making a real difference in people's lives. Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone.

Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire. Whether you're starting your career or looking for your next challenge, you'll find a place with us where your ideas are valued, and your work has purpose.

For further information on what it’s like to work for us and the benefits we offer, please refer to the following:

Our Recruitment Process
Our Organisational Values
Our Employee Benefits
Working for Us