Description

Dorset manages waste for over 380,000 residents through a network of contracts worth around £16 million a year, covering household recycling centres, waste transfer stations, bulking facilities, and treatment services. This is the role responsible for those contracts.

Dorset Council is consistently one of the top-performing local authorities for waste management in England. The team is small, experienced, and genuinely committed to doing things well. You'll have the scope to make a real difference to how the service operates, and the council will support your continuing professional development.

flexible and hybrid working options
a supportive team environment with genuine opportunities to develop
based in Dorchester with travel across a county that is genuinely worth travelling in

You'll lead a small contracts and data team within the Commercial and Strategy section, managing the full lifecycle of waste contracts from performance monitoring and payment reconciliation through to supporting procurement. You'll also have direct responsibility for the Household Recycling Centre contracts, which means regular site visits to review performance, resolve issues, and keep standards high.

The work involves making sure a range of contractual arrangements work in harmony with each other and with the council's own in-house waste collection operation. You'll manage infrastructure including bring banks and closed landfills, keep on top of RPI-linked bills of quantities, and act as the lead for collating and interpreting the waste data that drives both financial and service planning.

• managing the contracts team and data officer, including planning work programmes, assigning tasks, and providing training and guidance
  overseeing contract performance, payment verification, and costings against bills of quantities
• managing HRC contracts to deliver a good service to residents, including general facilities management and direct engagement with contractors
  maintaining and managing bring bank infrastructure, including risk assessments, planning and licensing liaison
• supporting procurement and tendering for new or renewed contracts
• leading on waste data collation and interpretation to support service and financial planning
• preparing reports for council committees and management board, and representing the council at regional and national level
• developing your knowledge of waste management legislation, technology, and best practice as the sector evolves

Requirements

This is a specialist role and we're looking for someone with real experience to match. You'll need:

• substantial contract management experience, ideally in waste management or a related environmental service
• experience leading a team and managing budgets
• solid knowledge of contract management procedures and local authority ways of working
• experience of site management and inspection, including risk assessment
• a relevant degree, professional qualification, eligible for CIWM membership
• strong communication skills and the confidence to deal with contractors, councillors, partner councils, and members of the public
• a full driving licence and access to a vehicle - this role involves regular travel to sites across Dorset