Assistant Recycling Engagement Officer

Job title Assistant Recycling Engagement Officer Job reference R1806 Date posted 28/04/2026 Application closing date 10/05/2026 Location West Suffolk Salary Starting salary £29,540 - £32,597 per annum plus excellent employee benefits package. Pay award pending. Contract type Temporary (18 months) Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Department Waste Management Attachments Blank Job description

About the role:

We are about to see the biggest changes to waste and recycling which will impact our 80,000 households in West Suffolk and also all of our businesses.

Under the government's Better Recycling policy, new collections will be introduced to include weekly food waste; dry recycling and changes to separating commercial waste.

This role is responsible for direct engagement with residents in supporting the delivery of new mandatory food waste and recycling collection services.

You will work with frontline staff in reducing levels of non-recycling waste and recycling contamination, whilst assisting officers in raising awareness of recycling and waste minimisation with schools and other community-based groups. This role will also assist in designing and promoting waste and recycling campaigns to raise awareness and promote services, as well as attend and assist with organising public promotional events.

This post reports to the Enforcement and Education Manager and delivers customer focused engagement and educational activities relating to the council's waste and recycling services.

You will be required to work at all council depots. You may reasonably be required to work at any other of the council's premises as required to meet the needs of the service and be flexible in this approach.

What you will need:

• Strong verbal and written skills for persuading diverse audiences to change waste and recycling behaviours.
• Proven ability in conflict resolution, empathy, and compassion when handling doorstep interactions and public engagement.
• An understanding of "Simpler Recycling," environmental sustainability, waste legislation, and the "waste hierarchy."
• Ability to work on your own initiative and flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Understanding of the importance of delivering high-quality customer service.
• Awareness of the importance of confidentiality and data protection (GDPR).
• Knowledge of the West Suffolk area.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and back-office software packages.
• General understanding of Health, Safety, and Welfare policies and procedures.
• Full driving licence.

Why work for us? Our benefits include:

• Holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 29 days after 5 years (pro rata if part time) plus bank holidays (with an option to buy up to 10 extra days each year subject to approval)
• Generous pension scheme - contribute between 5.5% and 6.8% (depending on your salary) and the council will contribute 16.4%
• Life assurance - a payment of three times your annual salary
• flexible working options to enable work/life balance
• access to a unique employee benefits package which includes discounts and cashback on supermarkets, high street shops, holidays, mobile phones, electrical goods, savings and loan schemes and many other products and services
• Salary sacrifice benefits including Cycle to Work scheme, Tusker Leased Car Scheme and SmartTech (buy the latest tech products interest free and repay through your monthly salary)
• Rail and bus staff discounts
• A range of Health and Wellbeing initiatives including an employee assistance programme
• Discounted membership at Abbeycroft Leisure centres
• A culture of learning inspiring staff to focus on continuous learning
• Modern office accommodation

For more information:

For an informal discussion and further information please contact Andrew Harvey, Enforcement & Education Manager on or email .

Please note, we are unable to accept CVs, please follow the online application process to apply.

Closing date: 10 May 2026. Applications will be reviewed on submission so please apply without delay. Previous applicants need not apply.

Interview date: to be confirmed