Driver Team Leader

Responsible for delivering safe and efficient frontline domestic and commercial recycling and waste collection services to residents and customers across the Aylesbury Vale area of Buckinghamshire Council.

The post holder will lead a small team of Loaders during daily waste collection operations by ensuring that statutory services are delivered to a high standard, health and safety requirements are observed and both waste and vehicle compliance is adhered to.

About us

Recycling and Waste covers the whole of Aylesbury Vale with over 80,000 residents and businesses.

The Operational Delivery Team are responsible for waste collection services across Aylesbury Vale including domestic recycling, refuse, food, garden, clinical and bulky collections, in addition to commercial refuse and recycling. The role involves leading a team of Loaders, typically 2 which form part of a wider team of 127 collection crew and office based supervisory staff.

Although a large team, we pride ourselves on our teamwork and commitment to delivering a professional service to all residents. Upon completing scheduled work on the dedicated rounds, DTL’s will regularly help other teams to complete all scheduled work during each day.

Services start and end at our Waste Transfer Station and require you during the day to visit alternate waste sites across Aylesbury Vale to dispose of waste.

No two days are ever the same and the Operational Delivery Team pride themselves on their ability to react professionally to the interesting challenges that waste collection brings.

We are recruiting a Driver Team Leader to ensure operational delivery of vital statutory services are delivered to our professional standard to residents of the Aylesbury Vale area of Buckinghamshire Council.

About the role

Driver Team Leaders will drive a range of vehicles from 7.5T food waste, 26T waste collection vehicles to 32T skip vehicles.

There are training opportunities including ROSPA Driver Assessors, ADR collections, being an internal Health and Safety Champion or exploring your passion for vehicles via our group of Fleet Champions.

Hours of work are 06.00 am until the working day is complete Monday to Friday with a minimum hours across the week of 46.25 hours per week, any additional hours worked above the contractual hours are recorded as overtime and paid at a rate 1.5.

We do not work public holidays however; we operate a catch up service on a Saturday following public holidays.

You will be joining a team that is proud to be delivering key frontline services to residents and customers. The team is highly regarded and recognised across the authority as being fundamental to the Council’s overall success.

This is acknowledged by the competitive salary offered, the group task and finish arrangement and a local reward and recognition scheme.

As well as making a real difference to the communities you serve, you’ll also be offered competitive rates of pay, generous employer pension contributions in line with the Government Pension Scheme as well as discounts at local facilities and travel also.

Key Accountabilities

• The role holder will maximise the use of resources, coordinating a small team of Loaders in the collection and disposal of waste in accordance with the agreed work programmes, operational procedures and contractual terms.
• The role holder will be confident to make reactive decisions whilst delivering the service across their allocated area, to ensure that operational requirements and health and safety standards are not compromised.
• The post holder will be a role model for their crew in terms of representing the Council in a positive and professional way. The post holder will work closely with the Operations Management Team to ensure that crews carry out their duties in accordance with policies, procedures and behavioural expectations.
• The role holder will report all relevant information back to the Operational Management Team during the day to ensure service delivery is streamlined between key teams.
• The role holder will be expected to adhere to administrative reporting procedures related to operations including accidents, missed bin locations, side refuse monitoring, incorrect/contaminated recyclables, fly tipping and badly littered sites. This requires the role holder to use in cab terminals and smartphones in addition to producing handwritten paper monitoring sheets.
• The role holder will be responsible to completing daily vehicle checks, reporting vehicle defects, adhering to Driver Hour Regulations and completing any accident-related reports.

On-the-go:

Our ‘on-the-go’ roles mean you’ll usually start and finish your day from a base, moving around between different locations throughout the day. You won’t need a fixed desk to work from, but you’ll have access to our network where you can keep up to date with admin and the latest staff updates.

About you

The role holder must hold a valid Class 2 LGV driving licence with at least 2-year driving experience. Evidence of significant post qualification driving experience that meets the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) requirement. Previous experience in driving waste collection vehicles is an advantage but not essential.

Ability to carry out various collection duties safely. Must have the ability to communicate effectively and lead a small team with a positive and proactive approach. Demonstrate the ability to be punctual, reliable and work in all weather conditions.

Other information

Closing Date: 11th April 2025

Interview Date: 21st and 22nd April 2025 - TBC

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day.

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• licensing, cemeteries and crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.