Job Details
Job title: Waste operative (loader/driver)
Salary/Grade: SCP 6 - 8
Service: Operations
Reports to: Assistant waste manager
Job purpose
- To undertake the collection and disposal of all residual and recycling (including, but not limited to, dry recycling, food waste, green waste and recycling centres) from residential, commercial and industrial premises throughout the Braintree District Council.
- To deliver and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction across all services.
- To actively participate in achieving the Council’s core objectives of creating a clean, green and safe district for the residents of Braintree.
Principal accountabilities
- The collection of all types of refuse and recycling from residential and commercial premises as directed in wheeled bins, trade bins, clear, black and blue sacks, sorting on site where applicable.
- To collect all properties missed on route collections allocated to you on the Bartec system or as directed by the Assistant Managers, Team Leaders or their representatives.
- To assist the driver in reversing/manoeuvring of the vehicle following the Council’s Reversing procedure when not driving.
- To carry out collections in a neat and tidy manner ensuring spillages are cleaned up at the time of collection.
- When undertaking driving duties to maintain a good standard of driving in relation to road conditions and other road users ensuring the safety of yourself, other employees and members of the public.
- To carry out and record daily/weekly vehicle and equipment checks in full compliance with the manufacturer’s guidance, driver’s handbook and report any defects using the defect reporting procedure.
- To wear and use the Council’s protective uniform/equipment correctly.
- To conduct all duties in a safe and proper manner as defined in the risk assessments and safe working practices. At all times to follow the training/advice given in respect of manual handling. To operate the bin lift and other equipment on the vehicle in a safe manner, following safe working practices.
- To assist with the daily/weekly maintenance and cleaning of the depot and vehicles.
- To assist with the delivery of new and replacement bins, new sacks, calendars and leaflets to properties when required.
- To assist other crew members, providing advice and direction particularly to new employees and agency workers.
- To assist other crews when instructed to do so.
- To respond to queries from members of the public and provide advice and information or direct them to the appropriate place to obtain the information they require.
- To use the electronic reporting device and provide updates as the collections take place for live reporting.
- To maintain professional conduct at all times to enhance the Council’s reputation for providing services to the highest standard and quality.
- To report near misses, accidents and incidents as they occur.
- To work weekends/bank holidays when requested by your line manager to meet Service need due to adverse weather, bank holiday catch up or other unforeseen circumstances.
Corporate accountabilities
- To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance.
- To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
- To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
- Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or his representative.
- To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
- Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business
continuity and during civil emergencies. - To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.
Skills, knowledge and experience
(Tested at application and interview stage)
Experience and qualifications
Previous experience of;
- Working in a physically demanding manual job role
- Working in an outdoor environment
- Working in a public facing role dealing with customers
- Working with collection/delivery schedules
- Working as part of a Waste Management contract
Qualifications;
- A valid driving licence is desirable ideally including entitlement to drive 7.5 tonne vehicles
- A valid CPC card is desirable
Skills, knowledge and other requirements
- Must be physically fit, able to move bags and wheeled bins for the working day and walk for a number of miles a day.
- Able to work effectively as part of a team/crew.
- Able to use own initiative.
- High degree of awareness in respect of personal health and safety in relation to manual handling and the dangers associated with working continuously in close proximity to the highway.
- Good customer service skills.
- Requirement to be literate and numerate in order to accept work instructions and complete necessary work documentation.
- Flexible approach to working hours.
- The ability to work weekends/bank holidays sometimes at short notice to meet the needs of the Service.
Competencies
(Tested at interview stage)
Communicating effectively
Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation
- Present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding
- Listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
- Present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon
- Seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with
- Choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach
Performing efficiently and effectively
Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results. Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems
- Ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
- Plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
- See tasks and objectives through to completion
- Approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
- Strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability
Using and managing resources efficiently and effectively
Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc.
- Take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
- Use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
- Seek out ways to improve the use of resources
Engaging with the customer
Understand the needs and requirements of their customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services
- Provide a helpful and friendly service to customers, both internally and externally
- Take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
- Make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
- Ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
Working well together
Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition
- Co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation, seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
- Demonstrate consideration and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
- Maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
- Seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
- Demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others
Other conditions
- This position does not require a DBS check
- This position is not politically restricted
Job profile updated
February 2026
Values and behaviours
Our Values and Behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.
Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.
Our vision
We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results
Our core values
We value everyone
- We respect, recognise and support our people, residents and businesses
- We listen to each other, understand and treat everyone fairly
- We care about our people and appreciate the unique qualities in us all
We work together
- We respect, recognise and support our people, residents and businesses
- We work as one team, recognising everyone's contribution
- We build strong relationships and partnerships to deliver better outcomes
We are flexible
- We embrace change and new ways of working
- We are adaptable, open to new ideas and focus on solutions
- We aim to constantly improve, and we are not afraid to challenge the status quo
