Position Overview
Our Waste Strategy team sits at the centre of a major transformation in how Cambridgeshire manages its waste. National policy, environmental expectations and new legislation are reshaping the sector, and our service is leading a significant programme of work to modernise waste services, infrastructure and long‑term contracts. We are seeking an exceptional Strategic Waste Projects Manager to support this complex and high‑profile agenda.
Interviews for this role are planned for Monday 20 July 2026.
Key Responsibilities
- Help deliver improved value for money from long‑term contracts worth tens of millions of pounds.
- Support the development of future waste services and infrastructure, influencing how residents access and use services.
- Ensure the Council responds effectively to rapidly evolving national waste legislation and policy.
- Contribute to the Council's climate change and Net Zero ambitions, helping reduce the environmental impact of waste.
- Enable informed decisions by senior leaders and elected Members on high‑risk, high‑value strategic programmes.
- Lead and manage multiple projects and workstreams within the Waste PFI Programme, ensuring they are delivered on time, to budget and to a high standard.
- Coordinate and work closely with a wide range of stakeholders including senior managers, elected Members, advisors, contractors and partner organisations.
- Develop and maintain project plans, business cases and performance reports, providing clear updates on progress, risks and outcomes.
- Manage budgets, financial reporting and risk, ensuring strong governance and value for money.
- Identify and manage dependencies, issues and risks, escalating where appropriate and driving solutions.
- Commission and oversee external consultants and specialist advisors across legal, financial, commercial, procurement and technical areas.
- Lead and support project team members (including internal staff and external partners) to deliver key outcomes.
- Contribute to the design and delivery of future waste services and infrastructure.
- Support the Council's climate change and Net Zero commitments through improved waste services and innovation.
Qualifications and Experience
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field and a project management qualification or willingness to work towards one.
- Experience delivering projects or programmes in complex organisations.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience managing budgets, risks and governance.
- Excellent communication, problem‑solving and organisational skills.
- Ability to lead or coordinate teams, partners or suppliers.
- Confidence in the use of information technology and project management tools.
- Delivery of complex projects in sectors such as infrastructure, construction, utilities or consultancy is desirable but not essential.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, along with our employee network "IDEAL" and self‑organised peer support groups help us to foster an inclusive, supportive and safe working environment where people feel valued, respected, and empowered. We collect relevant diversity data for monitoring as part of the recruitment process to understand the diversity of our applicants and monitor any trends throughout the recruitment processes so that we can take meaningful action.
Benefits
- Comprehensive wellbeing package covering all aspects of wellbeing, both in and out of work, also accessible to your family.
- Buy up to 4 weeks additional annual leave (pro‑rated) through our salary sacrifice scheme.
- Option to take bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances.
- Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings.
- Access to development opportunities, apprenticeships and qualified coaches to support your personal and professional growth.
- Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day.
- Access to Peer Support Groups through our IDEAL staff equality, diversity and inclusion network.
- Opportunities to nominate and receive Employee Recognition Awards.
- An "Our Cambs Rewards" account, giving you access to in‑store and online discounts as well as our Car Lease and Cycle to Work schemes.
Location
Cambridgeshire is a great place to work and live with a diverse population, an urban centre in Cambridge, historic Isle of Ely, Huntingdon and St Ives as well as more rural landscapes.
