Job Description

About you:

Exeter City Council is committed to recruiting a talented workforce that reflects all the communities we serve. We are a fair and inclusive employer and would welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you share our ambitions, visions and values to make Exeter a safer, cleaner, greener and more vibrant place to live, work and visit, then this role is definitely for you. We are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals, who are looking to make a difference with a 'can do' approach. Working as part of a team is a rewarding part of the job, within the Waste Operative duties, you could be picking up bulky items on one day or delivering bins the next day, you could be part of a bigger team on the Refuse Collection Vehicles and be part of our team task and finish ethos or assisting in other areas within the waste teams.

This is a physical role and requires moving bulky items, full wheelie bins, and handling sacks, so it will definitely keep you fit!

We are seeking applications for full time positions. We offer on the job training and instruction on the various vehicles and machines we operate in our fleet as well as our in cab technology, so your experience as a Waste Operative will be utilised and your skills and knowledge base will increase.

About the role:

Reporting to the Supervisors / Managers, you will be required to start and finish at Oakwood House in Marsh Barton. Working as part of a highly skilled team, your main role will be as a Waste Operative using modern collection vehicles on various collection rounds including the new food waste collection rounds that are being rolled out throughout the expanding city.

You will be expected to play your part in ensuring the city is kept clean and tidy in a sustainable way for its residents on a daily basis and doing your part for the environment.

You will have regular working hours starting at 6am or 7am, primarily collecting various wastes types on a mainly 'Group Team Task & Finish' basis.

Hours are on average, 37 hours per week, working 5 days out of 7 including catch up Saturdays after Bank Holidays, Good Friday and Christmas including adverse weather disruptions with the availability of further overtime throughout the year.

You must be self-motivated, flexible, have the ability to move heavy objects using manual handling techniques and prepared to work to exacting standards.

High levels of physically fitness is required, along with good visual and hearing abilities. If you like, working outside and being part of a team, then this is the job for you. Full PPE will be supplied for this all-weather role which must be worn at all times.

You must be a team player and demonstrate a 'can do' attitude, flexible and willing to undertake all requirements as a Waste Operative and be able to work as part of a team or on your own in all sectors within the waste, recycling and fleet departments.

Exeter City Council can offer you job security and some incredible employment benefits which include a generous contributory pension scheme, up to 29 days paid leave (service related), fully supported training opportunities to upskill yourself and provision of occupational health, wellbeing and employee assistance programs.

In addition, you will have access to refreshment facilities, showers/toilet facilities. Parking on site is free but limited.

About the team:

Waste, Recycling and Fleet is a busy service that reaches over 61,000 household in the city. We also provide services to many businesses within the city as well. Conducting over 67,000 collections a week, our professional drivers play a crucial role not only through their driving skills, navigating Exeter's busy roads, but also being the key to ensuring that our loaders operate safely.

We have a team of staff who are proud to work for the City Council and put the residents of Exeter at the heart of everything we do.
As part of our continued commitment to reduce and recycle more waste streams from the doorstep we have introduced the collection of food waste to our service, we have currently rolled out to over a third of the city and will continue to do so.

Exeter City Council are looking for self-motivated individuals that will be willing to participate in training to further their career progression.

What next?

If we sound like the right fit for you and you feel like the right fit for us we would welcome your application. Please click on the Apply button at the bottom of this page.

Alternatively if you would like to find out more about the post, the team or working with us at the Council please contact Laurance George, Waste Operations Supervisor, at laurance.george@exeter.gov.uk

We reserve the right to close any vacancy before the closing date if enough applications are received.

Our commitment

At Exeter City Council we are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve.

To support this commitment we will strive to implement reasonable adjustments to support any members of our communities who face barriers in recruitment processes, irrespective of the reason.

We are also proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 24,404.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: In person

Reference ID: VAC000288/2025