Recycling Communications Lead

North East Combined Authority; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Training & development

Pension scheme

Flexible hours

Employee benefits

Job summary

Gateshead Council is seeking a proactive Recycling Communications Lead to guide engagement and behaviour-change activities across the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership. The role covers Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland, translating complex service changes into clear messages for residents.

You will develop and deliver strategic communications, work with three council partners, and ensure campaigns drive measurable improvements in recycling participation and contamination

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in communications.
• Experience delivering impactful communications or engagement campaigns with measurable results.
• Ability to turn complex information into clear, engaging, accessible messages.
• Excellent writing skills across different audiences and channels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a Partnership-wide communications and engagement strategy to support Simpler Recycling implementation and other service changes.
• Design and deliver targeted behaviour-change communications campaigns to improve participation and reduce contamination.
• Work collaboratively with communications teams at all three local authority partners to ensure consistent messaging.
• Translate operational service changes into clear, resident-facing communications across multiple channels.
• Coordinate the development of communication materials and guidance for frontline and customer-facing teams.
• Develop and support communications approaches to explain wider waste policy changes to residents and stakeholders.
• Monitor engagement, feedback and issues and support issue management during periods of service change.
• Evaluate communications activity and provide reports and recommendations for continuous improvement.

Skills

Degree level or equivalent

Campaign delivery

Cross-organisational collaboration

Clear writing across channels

Data-informed decision making

Inclusive communications

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in communications

Job description

Recycling Communications Lead - 2 year fixed term contract

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might just be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Three councils. One partnership. A shared ambition for greener communities.

The South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership is responsible for coordinating strategic waste and recycling activity across three local authorities.

National reforms, including Simpler Recycling and Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR), are creating new opportunities to improve recycling performance, introduce new services and deliver better outcomes for residents. The Partnership is also preparing for wider policy changes, including the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and evolving environmental requirements affecting local authority waste services.

Inform, engage and inspire thousands of residents to recycle smarter.

Are you passionate about delivering communications that make a real difference to communities? We're looking for an experienced and creative communications professional to lead engagement and behaviour-change activity across the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership, covering Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how residents understand and respond to significant changes in waste and recycling services, including the implementation of Simpler Recycling. Sitting within Gateshead Council’s dedicated Communications team and working with colleagues across three local authorities, you will develop and deliver impactful communications campaigns that inform, engage and inspire residents to adopt positive recycling behaviours. From translating complex service changes into clear and accessible messages to designing evidence-based campaigns that drive measurable outcomes, you'll play a key role in helping create cleaner, greener communities across the region.

What you'll get to do:

• Develop and deliver a Partnership-wide communications and engagement strategy to support Simpler Recycling implementation and other service changes.
• Design and deliver targeted behaviour-change communications campaigns to improve participation, reduce contamination and support effective service use.
• Work collaboratively with communications teams at all three local authority partners to ensure consistent and locally appropriate messaging.
• Translate operational service changes into clear, accessible resident-facing communications across a range of channels.
• Coordinate the development of communication materials and guidance for frontline and customer-facing teams.
• Develop and support communications approaches to explain wider waste policy changes to residents and stakeholders.
• Monitor engagement, feedback and emerging issues and support issue management during periods of service change.
• Evaluate communications activity and provide reports and recommendations for continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring:

• Educated to degree level, or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant experience in communications, engagement, marketing, public relations or a related discipline.
• Experience of delivering impactful communications or engagement campaigns that achieve measurable results.
• A strong track record of working collaboratively across organisations and with a range of stakeholders.
• The ability to turn complex information into clear, engaging and accessible messages.
• Excellent writing skills and experience creating content for different audiences and communication channels.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan and deliver activity to deadlines.
• Experience of evaluating communication effectiveness and using data and feedback to improve outcomes.
• A commitment to inclusive communications and ensuring all communities can access and understand key information.

What’s in it for you

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary – we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions – a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services – plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation