Overview
Interim Head of Waste Management
Temporary, Full Time
Pay Rate: Up to £650/day Umbrella
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: 2 November 2025
The Role
This is a major leadership opportunity within one of the UK's largest and most complex Waste Disposal Authorities. You will manage services that handle over 650,000 tonnes of waste each year across Essex, overseeing operations spanning 21 Recycling Centres, 4 Transfer Stations, and multiple closed landfill sites, supported by a workforce of over 200 operational staff.
The role carries responsibility for multi-million-pound contracts worth over £1 billion in total, covering residual waste treatment, recycling, reuse and haulage. It demands strategic oversight of complex commercial arrangements, performance management, and compliance across a high-risk, regulated environment.
You will work as part of a collaborative leadership team, driving efficiency, innovation and environmental excellence to support Essex's ambitions to deliver a great service for residents and a low carbon, circular economy.
Interviews for this role will take place on Monday 10 November.
The Opportunity
Work as part of a collaborative senior management team. Identify and implement optimal changes to waste functions to ensure improved environmental benefits and cost efficiencies, whilst protecting local services.
Responsibilities
* Operational management - safe and efficient day-to-day management of all recycling centres, transfer stations and haulage fleet
* Health and Safety - manage all health and safety issues in relation to the WDA services, ensuring safety and compliance for officers, contractors and members of the public
* Financial control - provide robust financial management of waste budgets (circa. £90m per annum), savings targets and forecasting requirements
* Major procurements - provide support and expertise to existing procurements, advising on waste management practices and operational excellence
* Closed landfill sites - ensure the closed landfill sites are managed in accordance with regulatory requirements and maximise any associated revenue
* Contract management - work closely with the central contract management function to ensure major contractors are compliant and delivering excellent levels of service
* Line management - direct line management of 7 staff and overall responsibility for all (200+) waste operations staff, ensuring they understand priorities, objectives and policies
* Stakeholder Management - work with the 12 Waste Collection Authorities across Essex to provide effective waste disposal and treatment directions
* Project Management - undertake any assigned projects, ensuring agreed outcomes are delivered on time, within budget and to the expected standard
Experience You Will Bring
* A Chartered Waste Manager (MCIWM) with extensive and demonstrable experience of senior waste service leadership
* Sound knowledge of current and emerging waste and resources policy and legislation
* In-depth understanding of operational techniques and practices including recycling centre operations, waste transfer operations, waste treatment and disposal methods and experience managing complex waste-related contracts
* Considerable experience of managing multi-million-pound budgets effectively and forecasting future budget requirements
* Experience in managing staff, with a commitment to staff development
* Ability to communicate effectively to different audiences including members, directors, waste officers, operatives and the public
* Highly skilled in ensuring compliance with all environmental permitting and health and safety guidance and legislation relevant to the management of local authority collected wastes or equivalent
* Highly skilled in effectively managing waste contractors, ensuring value for money and delivering to time-scales
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we are committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. We are recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity and emphasise that everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. We offer flexible working options and a focus on innovation, supporting career development and community contribution.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, with local authorities in Essex working toward establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements under our Job Interview Scheme and to providing reasonable adjustments. We are also committed to interviewing all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements for the role.
Once you join Essex County Council you will receive many employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. Please embrace our code of conduct and Nolan principles throughout the recruitment process to help maintain a positive and respectful workplace.
Please note that the job role requires mobility throughout an operational area. A driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet mobility requirements through other means, is required.
Essex County Council has determined that off-payroll working rules will apply to this assignment. If you work through an intermediary (such as a personal services company), income tax and primary national insurance contributions will be deducted at source from payments made to the intermediary.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other opportunities, please join The Essex Talent Community.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk
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