Waste Officer (B1)

AWE; Reading; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

270 hours annual leave

Pension scheme (9-13%)

Life Assurance

Job summary

AWE is seeking a Waste Officer to join our site between Reading and Basingstoke, with options for travel to Burghfield and a 9-day fortnight. The role focuses on environmental and operational compliance across radioactive, controlled, and aqueous waste streams, acting as the local waste specialist.

You will drive the reduction of legacy wastes, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide expert advice on waste management while coordinating activities to support safety and sustainability objectives.

Qualifications

• Degree in a science-related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of radioactivity and radioactive waste management.
• Knowledge of waste management legislation and environmental compliance.
• Experience in customer-focused environments and stakeholder management.
• Strong communication, report writing, and presentations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and experience with databases.

Responsibilities

• Act as local waste specialist at the facility or project.
• Be primary contact for waste-related matters and drive reduction of legacy wastes.
• Coordinate waste activities across radioactive, controlled or aqueous streams.
• Provide expert advice on waste management and regulatory compliance.
• Support environmental, safety and sustainability objectives.

Skills

Radioactivity basics

Waste management laws

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Report writing

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Influence change

Nuclear site licence

Education

Degree in a science-related discipline

Tools

Excel

Databases

Job description

Waste Officer

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking. Please note: the locational requirement of this role could change to our B site at any time, dependant on business needs. Successful candidates would need to be able to travel to Burghfield as well

Working pattern: The role is full-time on a 9-day fortnight. The core working hours for this role are between 08:00 and 17:00.

AWE is currently looking for new staff to join our team of Waste Officers. You will play a key role in AWE's environmental and operational compliance, acting as the local waste specialist at your facility or project placement. You'll be the primary point of contact for waste-related matters, driving the reduction of legacy and problematic wastes while ensuring new waste arisings are managed safely, efficiently and in line with regulatory requirements.

Working across radioactive, controlled or aqueous waste streams, you'll provide expert advice, coordinate waste activities, and use or further develop your expertise in radioactive waste management to support AWE's environmental, safety and sustainability objectives.

Who are we looking for?

We do need you to have the following:

• Degree in a science-related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Understanding of the principles of radioactivity and radioactive waste management.
• Knowledge of waste management legislation and environmental compliance requirements.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, we’d like you to have experience in some of the following:

• Experience working in a customer-focused environment and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels.
• Experience producing clear reports and delivering presentations.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to manage complex issues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, and experience using databases.
• Positive, proactive approach with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence and engage others to drive change and best practice.
• Knowledge of nuclear site licence conditions and Environmental Permit requirements.
• Knowledge of Environmental Management Systems and environmental auditing techniques.
• Awareness of waste management practices used outside of AWE.
• Experience supporting environmental or regulatory compliance activities.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here

AWE has a wide range of benefits to suit you. These include:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The Working at AWE page on our website is where you can find full details in the AWE Benefits Guide.

Important Things You Need To Know

• You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
• We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process.
• Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Due to the classified nature of the work involved, there are limited opportunities to work from home in this role. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at AWE Aldermaston.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.