Waste Education & Engagement Coordinator

Gateshead Regeneration Partnership; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Pension scheme

Annual leave 28–32 days

Flexible working hours

Hybrid & Flexible working

Training & development

Health & wellbeing support

Cycle to work scheme

Electric & hybrid car scheme

Discounts & salary sacrifice

Job summary

Gateshead Council seeks a Waste Education and Engagement Coordinator to improve recycling across the borough. You will work with residents and communities to raise awareness, encourage behaviour change and help reduce waste, while supporting services such as food waste and garden waste collections.

The role offers hybrid working, an emphasis on practical engagement, data-informed intervention, and opportunities to deliver campaigns and events that boost recycling income and reduce disposal costs.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Experience of working in a team and able to work with minimum supervision.
• Experience of working within the waste sector and dealing sensitively with customers.

Responsibilities

• Identify areas within Gateshead where contamination of recycling is taking place.
• Interrogate existing data held in Bartec to identify areas needing intervention.
• Carry out targeted door-stepping and face-to-face engagement with residents to explain the service.
• Ability to work outside normal working hours to engage with different sections of the community.
• Promote recycling and support campaigns to improve recycling rates and reduce contamination.

Skills

Driving license

Communication

MS Office

Teamwork

Independence

Waste sector experience

Customer care

Organisation

Problem solving

GCSEs

Education

Five GCSEs including Maths and English

Job description

Who we are & what we stand for

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

The Highways & Waste team are responsible for ensuring that Gateshead is a safe and attractive place in which people can live, work and spend free time. From waste strategy, including collection and recycling to the maintenance of our highways and street lighting. You’ve probably also noticed significant investment in the restoration of the Tyne Bridge, and our Highways team continue to play a pivotal role in that restoration project of a local landmark.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Waste Education and Engagement Coordinator to play a key role in improving recycling across the borough. This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with residents and communities to raise awareness of recycling services, encourage positive behaviour change, and help reduce the amount of waste sent for disposal. By supporting residents to recycle more effectively, reduce contamination, and make best use of existing services such as food waste, paper, and garden waste collections, the role will contribute to improved environmental outcomes and deliver real financial savings for the Council through lower disposal costs and increased recycling income.

What you'll get to do

• Identify areas within Gateshead where contamination of recycling is taking place
• Interrogate existing data held in Bartec to support the identification of areas requiring intervention
• Carry out targeted door‑stepping and face‑to‑face engagement with residents to explain the service, including the use of surveys
• Ability to work outside normal working hours to engage with different sections of the community
• Monitor and target areas where recyclable materials are present in residual waste, contamination levels are high, or paper tonnages are low
• Provide a coordinated approach to encourage positive actions and re‑engage householders who may have become complacent, such as ordering recycling containers
• Undertake return visits to households to check progress, provide further advice, and educate residents using interactive techniques, including examining bin contents with the householder
• Comply with all relevant Health and Safety requirements and Council policies and procedures
• Assist with communications campaigns, including the production and design of recycling information, leaflet drops, roadshows, and attendance at key events and residents’ groups
• Work closely with key staff within recycling services to develop an integrated approach
• Support the WEEE recycling improvement project
• Support green waste collections and encourage resident participation in the scheme
• Respond to resident queries in a professional and timely manner
• Undertake maintenance and repair of residual and recycling bins to provide refurbished, reusable, and serviceable bins
• Promote battery recycling through designated return points
• Work alongside partner agencies, private housing associations, and ethnic groups to promote and encourage recycling
• Assist with the delivery of bins
• Respond to allocated case files from GOSS
• Support wider environmental awareness initiatives, including dog fouling, litter, and fly‑tipping

What you’ll bring (Essential Criteria)

• Full UK Driving License
• Communicating effectively (written and verbal)
• Proficient in Microsoft software packages
• Experience of working in a team
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Experience of working within the waste sector
• Experience of dealing sensitively with customers
• Strong organisational skills to manage workloads and meet deadlines
• Effective problem-solving and decision‑making skills
• Five GCSEs including Maths and English (or equivalent qualification)

This is a repost of a campaign so previous applicants need not apply

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. At Gateshead Council we are an employer who embraces, and welcomes diversity, who's truly inclusive and who demonstrates equality for all. We'll go the extra mile so that our approach is representative of the communities we serve and each other. 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.