Environmental Operative

Manchester City Council; Manchester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 26 days' annual leave

31 days after five years' service

Buy up to two extra weeks' leave

Flexibility payment 6.7%

Job summary

Longsight Market, Manchester City Council, is seeking an Environmental Operative to help maintain high standards of cleanliness, safety and presentation across the market. You will support traders, customers and visitors and contribute to a welcoming environment.

The role involves carrying out cleaning duties, waste management and basic facilities tasks, with a four‑week rotating rota and weekend shifts. Join a dedicated team delivering public services in a busy urban market.

Qualifications

• Experience of cleaning, caretaking, environmental or facilities‑related duties.
• Experience of working in a customer‑facing environment.
• Ability to undertake physically demanding duties, including lifting, moving equipment and working outdoors.
• Ability to work the advertised shift pattern, including regular weekend working.
• Ability to identify and report maintenance, repair and health and safety issues.

Responsibilities

• Maintain market facilities and cleanliness across Longsight Market.
• Manage waste and cleaning duties to keep the market safe and welcoming.
• Support traders, customers and visitors to ensure a well‑run environment.

Skills

Cleaning

Customer facing

Physical fitness

Health & safety

Manual handling

Job description

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week. Working pattern: a four-week rotating rota. Weeks 1 and 2 are Tuesday to Friday (Tuesday 7:00am to 3:30pm, Wednesday to Friday 7:00am to 4:30pm). Weeks 3 and 4 are Wednesday to Saturday (Wednesday 7:00am to 3:30pm, Thursday to Saturday 7:00am to 4:30pm). The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, including occasional changes to working patterns where required.

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Additional Payments: 6.7% Flexibility payment

Closing Date & Closing time: 11.59pm, 10 September 2026

Interview Method: Face to Face

Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

This role is subject to 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Longsight Market plays an important role at the heart of the local community, providing a vibrant, welcoming and safe environment for traders, customers and visitors. As an Environmental Operative, you will help maintain high standards of cleanliness, safety and presentation across the market, ensuring it remains an attractive and well‑run destination. If you take pride in delivering excellent public services and enjoy working as part of a busy team, we'd love to hear from you.

If you're successful, you'll join a dedicated team responsible for keeping Longsight Market clean, safe and operational. Your work will directly support traders, customers and visitors by maintaining market facilities, managing waste, carrying out cleaning duties and helping ensure the market remains a welcoming environment for everyone.

We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:

Essential requirements for the role:

• Experience of cleaning, caretaking, environmental or facilities‑related duties.
• Experience of working in a customer‑facing environment.
• Ability to undertake physically demanding duties, including lifting, moving equipment and working outdoors.
• Ability to work the advertised shift pattern, including regular weekend working.
• Ability to identify and report maintenance, repair and health and safety issues

Desirable requirements that would be useful in this role:

• Experience of working in a market, retail, facilities management or similar public‑facing environment.
• Experience of undertaking basic maintenance, repairs or setting up and dismantling equipment and stalls.

Working for Manchester City Council is a chance to make a real difference in a diverse city that leads change and improves lives. Whether you're supporting communities or improving public services, you'll help create opportunities and shape a better future for everyone.

Benefits we offer

• Up to 26 days' annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years' service
• Buy up to two extra weeks' leave
• Up to 3 days' volunteering leave
• A 35-hour work week for full‑time roles
• We review pay each year and recognise three trade unions
• The UK's largest local government pension scheme
• Enhanced parental and carers leave
• Employee discounts and perks
• Good Employment Charter member

For more information about working for Manchester Council, please visit Careers - Manchester City Council

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirement for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
• Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?

When You Join Us

We're a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Accessible Formats

Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.