Senior Operations Controller
Location: Albert Road, Bristol
Salary: £49,500 per annum
Hours: 45 hours per week, Monday–Friday, 06:00-15:30
About Bristol Waste Company
At Bristol Waste Company, what we do matters. We keep Bristol and the surrounding areas clean, safe and moving. Working in partnership with the council, we support the city’s sustainability goals while delivering high‑quality, value‑for‑money services. Our commercial operations are growing, and we’re looking for people who share our values and want to grow with us.
The Role
The Senior Operations Controller will provide high-level oversight of the day-to-day operation across recycling and refuse, ancillary and commercial collections, overseeing the tracking and communication with collection crews and supporting Supervisors and Chargehands to maintain safe, efficient, and compliant service delivery. The post holder will monitor operational performance throughout the day, coordinating resources and service recovery actions to ensure the smooth running and completion of all scheduled work. A key element of the role is clear, timely communication with Operational Managers on emerging issues, risks, and priorities, working collaboratively to resolve problems and achieve daily completion targets.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the operational control function for collections services, providing oversight, support, and escalation for Supervisors and Chargehands across the services.
* Coordinate daily service delivery to ensure completion of scheduled rounds, managing competing priorities, disruption, and changes in real time.
* Monitor and support resource planning (staffing, vehicles, and spare capacity) to maintain adequate cover, considering absences, busy periods, and unplanned events.
* Provide senior-level decision making for service recovery, including reallocation of crews, route changes, contingency arrangements, and authorisation of additional resources where agreed.
* Support Operational Managers with vehicle provision and fleet issues, including breakdown coordination, allocation of spares and liaison with workshop/fleet teams.
* Provide real-time performance insight to the management team, highlighting risks, exceptions and trends, and recommending actions to achieve daily completion targets and KPIs, working to a right first-time approach.
* Manage and prioritise day-to-day service enquiries and operational activities, ensuring appropriate responses, accurate record keeping and timely updates to relevant stakeholders.
* Oversee compliance administration for Driver’s Hours and tachograph processes (receipt, logging, filing, and monitoring), escalating potential compliance concerns promptly to managers.
* Coach and develop Supervisors and Chargehands, supporting consistent standards, clear communication, accurate system uses and effective shift handovers.
* Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying process/system issues, proposing solutions, and supporting implementation of agreed changes.
* Build and maintain effective working relationships with BWC colleagues, Bristol City Council, and other partners/community groups, always representing the control function professionally.
* Direct line management of a Chargehand team.
What We’re Looking For
* Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills, confident in giving clear instructions and handling challenging conversations professionally.
* Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear updates, reports, and accurate records.
* Highly organised, able to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced operational environment.
* Strong problem-solving skills, taking ownership of issues and applying practical, customer-focused solutions.
* Competent in Microsoft Office applications, including word processing and spreadsheets.
* Working knowledge of transport/fleet compliance, including Driver’s Hours and tachograph requirements, with the confidence to elevate concerns appropriately.
* Confident user of waste management, routing and/or fleet software systems and monitoring tools; able to interpret performance data and translate into actions.
* Understanding of operational control processes within logistics, transport or waste management environments.
* Awareness of safe and compliant service delivery standards and operational best practice.
* Demonstrable experience in an operations control, logistics, transport, or waste management environment, with responsibility for real‑time decision making.
* Proven ability to lead, support and coordinate others (e.g. Supervisors and/or Chargehands), setting priorities and maintaining standards across a day.
* Experience managing operational disruption, resource allocation, and service recovery activities.
* Ability to work effectively within a large remote team and build constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
* 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays
* Free BUPA Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme
* Onsite physiotherapist and Cycle to Work scheme
* Learning and development opportunities with clear progression routes
* Reward Gateway discounts at 900+ retailers
* Employee recognition awards and long service awards
Everyone Belongs
We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We value diversity and ensure fair and equal consideration for all candidates.
How to Apply
Apply as soon as possible and before 23:59 on the closing date. We may close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Contact
Talent Acquisition Team
Email: recruitment@bristolwastecompany.co.uk
Phone: 0117 440 6676
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