Collections Chargehand

About Bristol Waste Company

Bristol Waste Company plays a key role in keeping Bristol and the surrounding area clean, safe and moving. Working alongside the council, the organisation helps deliver the city’s sustainability ambitions while providing reliable, good-value services. Its commercial work is expanding, and it is seeking people who share its values and want to develop with the business.

Role overview

This field-based position supports Collections Supervisors with day-to-day operational oversight. The role focuses on checking frontline collection activity, making sure standards are met, and encouraging safe, efficient working across crews. Acting as the on-site “eyes and ears,” the Chargehand carries out inspections, gives immediate feedback, and helps drive continual service improvement.

Key responsibilities

• Observe frontline collection work to confirm that crews follow operational procedures, service standards and planned schedules.
• Help deliver safe and efficient collections by reinforcing health and safety requirements, safe vehicle operation and correct manual handling practice.
• Carry out operational inspections and checks, including cleanliness standards, bin presentation, contamination issues and missed collections.
• Coach crews on the job, provide practical guidance and prompt feedback, and raise repeated or serious concerns with Supervisors when needed.
• Accurately log, report and communicate inspection results, service issues and operational concerns using the agreed systems and processes.
• Work with Supervisors to identify and implement improvements that strengthen quality, efficiency and compliance.
• Support real-time resolution of service problems, including missed collections and, where appropriate, customer-facing issues.
• Serve as an important communication channel between frontline crews and Supervisors to maintain coordination and service continuity.

What we’re looking for

The successful candidate should be confident in observing work, identifying issues, and feeding back clearly to operational teams. You should be able to manage your own time well while working out in the field, and be comfortable supporting crews with constructive guidance. A Class 2 licence is required. Experience in waste collection or a similar operational setting, along with knowledge of routes, service standards, reporting, health and safety, and environmental cleanliness expectations, will be important.

Working details

This is a field-based, onsite role. The working pattern is 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Pay and benefits

The salary for this role is £38,941.59 per year.

• 25 days of annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Free BUPA Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme
• Onsite physiotherapist and Cycle to Work scheme
• £200 employee referral bonus
• Learning and development support with clear progression pathways
• Discounts through Reward Gateway at more than 900 retailers
• Employee recognition awards and long service awards

Inclusion

Bristol Waste Company aims to be an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds. All candidates are considered fairly and equally.

Application process

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application promptly before the closing deadline at 23:59. The vacancy may close earlier if there is a large response. If you do not receive an update within three weeks of the closing date, the application should be treated as unsuccessful.

Contact

Talent Acquisition Team

Email: recruitment@bristolwastecompany.co.uk

Phone: 0117 440 6676

Success measures

Success will be measured by the quality of operational monitoring, accuracy of reporting, effective support to crews and Supervisors, and contribution to safer and more efficient collection services.