Assistant Director - Environmental Operations

HACKNEY COUNCIL; London Borough of Hackney; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hackney Council is seeking an exceptional Assistant Director - Environmental Operations and Behaviour Change to lead our frontline teams and pioneer innovative, community-focused solutions in Hackney.

In this senior SM2 role, you will oversee up to 650 staff, a £45.7m gross revenue budget, and high-impact services that affect residents and businesses daily, including Refuse & Recycling, Street Cleansing, and Fleet.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience managing complex, multi-million-pound environmental or logistics operations.
• Strong expertise in fleet licensing, high-risk operations (SSOW), and waste legislation.
• Track record of managing large frontline workforces, navigating union relations, and leading through change.
• Excellent communication and political acumen, with commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead 24/7 environmental operations, ensuring service delivery across street cleansing, waste collection, estate cleansing and commercial waste.
• Drive behaviour change with data-led strategies to boost recycling, reduce waste, and promote environmental responsibility.

Job description

Lead dynamic frontline services, drive environmental sustainability, and make a direct impact on the vibrant communities of Hackney!

About the Role

Are you an ambitious, visionary leader looking to shape the future of urban environmental services? Hackney Council is seeking an exceptional Assistant Director - Environmental Operations and Behaviour Change to lead our high-profile frontline teams and pioneer innovative, community-focused solutions.

In this pivotal senior leadership role (SM2 tier), you will oversee a massive frontline operational engine comprising up to 650 dedicated staff, a gross revenue budget of £45.7m, and high-impact services that touch the daily lives of every resident and business in Hackney. From Refuse & Recycling, Street Cleansing, and Commercial Services to Fleet.

Management and pioneering Behaviour Change campaigns, you will be at the heart of making Hackney a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable borough.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic & Operational Leadership: Provide overarching direction for 24/7 environmental operations, ensuring exceptional service delivery across street cleansing, waste collection, estate cleansing, and commercial waste.
• Drive Behaviour Change: Execute data-led strategies to engage residents and businesses, driving recycling rates, reducing waste, and fostering long-term environmental responsibility.

About Us

• Commercial Growth & Innovation: Expand commercial services to generate revenue, optimize resource management, and lead digital transformation across route planning and customer engagement.
• Asset & Fleet Management: Direct operations at Millfields Depot and Waste Transfer Station, maintaining full compliance with safety, statutory regulations, and Operator's Licence standards.
• People & Partnerships: Inspire a multi-tiered frontline workforce, foster positive union relations, and collaborate with strategic partners like the North London Waste Authority. As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

Requirements

• Proven senior leadership experience managing complex, multi-million-pound environmental or logistics operations.
• Strong technical expertise in fleet operator licensing, high-risk operational environments (SSOW), and statutory waste legislation.
• A track record of managing large frontline workforces, navigating union relations, and leading through change.
• Outstanding communication skills, political acumen, and a passion for embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything you do.

Why Hackney

Hackney is one of London's most vibrant, diverse, and forward-thinking boroughs. This is a rare opportunity to lead dedicated teams, innovate frontline public services, and champion real environmental change at a transformative scale.