Circular Economy Officer

Mount Alexander Shire Council; Castlemaine; Hybrid; AUD 87,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Fitness Passport

Employee Assistance Program

Generous leave

Paid parental leave

Professional development

Job summary

Mount Alexander Shire Council is seeking a Circular Economy Officer to join the Waste and Recycling Team in Central Victoria. The role focuses on delivering education, behaviour-change programs and initiatives to advance reuse, repair and resource recovery across the community.

You will help implement kerbside service changes, including a weekly FOGO rollout and a move to fortnightly waste services by 1 July 2027, while engaging residents, staff and local partners.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of waste and resource recovery and circular economy principles.
• Project management experience with development, implementation, monitoring and review of initiatives.
• Understanding of behaviour change methodologies for community engagement and sustainability.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication for diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver behaviour change programs and initiatives supporting the Waste Management Strategy 2023–2033 and kerbside reforms.
• Lead development and delivery of circular economy initiatives to promote reuse, repair and resource recovery.
• Support council operations, local businesses and community groups to adopt circular economy practices.
• Respond to enquiries from residents and stakeholders and educate staff on waste, recycling and circular economy services.

Job description

Full time, ongoing
Band 6, $96,171 pa + Super

Closing date: 12pm on Monday 26 October 2026

Mount Alexander Shire Council is known for its food and wine culture, thriving arts, music, cafes and bar scene, and stunning natural landscapes. Often referred to as “North Northcote”, the shire is recognised for its creative and inclusive community.

Perfectly located in Central Victoria (Castlemaine), only 90 minutes from Melbourne, and 30 minutes from Daylesford and Bendigo, you’ll enjoy a balanced work-life, free from bumper-to-bumper traffic. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a highly engaged and passionate community committed to driving positive climate action and local sustainable outcomes.

The Circular Economy Officer sits within Council’s Waste and Recycling Team and reports to the Waste Management Coordinator. The role is responsible for delivering behaviour change programs, projects and initiatives that support the delivery of Council’s Waste Management Strategy 2023-2033 and upcoming kerbside service reforms. With a strong focus on circular economy outcomes, the position leads the development and delivery of initiatives that promotes reuse and repair, reduces waste and improves resource recovery across the community.

The role

The Circular Economy Officer is responsible for:

Supporting the delivery of Council’s kerbside service changes to introduce a weekly Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service and switch from a weekly to a fortnightly waste service by 1 July 2027. This includes the development and implementation of targeted education and communications.

Annually develop behaviour change strategies, programs, and initiatives to:

increase reuse and repair

increase waste diversion

Supporting council operations, local businesses and community organisations to adopt circular economy principles and practices.

Responding to enquiries from residents and stakeholders and educate staff regarding waste, and recycling services and circular economy initiatives.

To be successful in this role you will have:

Strong knowledge of waste and resource recovery, circular economy principles, EPA regulations, local government, and waste related legislation and policy.

Project management experience, including developing, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing projects, programs, or initiatives.

Understanding of behaviour change methodologies and their application in community engagement and sustainability initiatives.

Well-developed written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Annual salary increases

Hybrid working options– work from home and the office

Flexible working arrangements

Access to Fitness Passport and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and families

Generous leave provisions, including purchased leave options and paid parental leave

Cross-skilling and professional development opportunities

Visit the Why work with us page on our website for more benefits.

Contact

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the role, please contact Tash Baxter, Waste Management Officer, on (03) 5471 1***.

Additional information

Mount Alexander Shire Council is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to child safety with zero tolerance for child abuse. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applicants from all cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and backgrounds.

Applicants can expect that the recruitment process will include interviewing, reference checks and criminal history checks. Some positions will also be required to provide a Working with Children Check, and medical assessments including drug and alcohol testing may be undertaken.

For more information on the recruitment process, please download the Candidate information document from our website.