Job title: Loader
Salary: A3 £26,644 to £27,064 (includes shift and bank holiday enhancement)
Further progression to B1 grade Lead Loader is possible, following a successful 6 month probationary period. Lead Loader salary range is £27,064 to £27,927 (includes shift and bank holiday enhancement)
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Newmarket House
About the role:
It’s never been more important and rewarding to work in the world of waste and recycling!
Leeds City Council is proud of our refuse collection staff who deliver this crucial service to every household in the city every week. Each week we typically empty in the region of half a million bins! Only one other council in the whole of the UK collects from more households than us – and no other council collects more garden waste.
We achieve this through a dedicated team of front line staff who work in all conditions, mainly to empty the city’s black, green and brown bins.
Our ambition is to become the best refuse service in the UK – playing our part to support residents, our customers, in the responsible management of their waste.
We currently have a number of Loader vacancies in the operational part of our service.
There is usually a Crew Chargehand (driver) and two Loaders on each crew, who work together to empty bins across collection routes. Your main role is to ensure all the bins that are presented for collection are safely emptied into the back of the wagon and then taken and placed neatly and safely back, and that any missed bins are recorded on the in cab units.
You will either be assigned to a crew that works a particular patch or be part of a “pool” to provide cover as and where required. Either way you need to be prepared to work in any part of Leeds, starting between 6:30-7:00am.
Successful candidates will initially be appointed as a Loader (A3 grade) and subject to a 6 month probationary period. We look to develop and encourage staff progression upon successfully completing the probationary period, and there is the potential to then move to the more senior Lead Loader (B1 grade) position, should you satisfy our requirements to demonstrate sufficient levels of literacy, numeracy and customer service.
You will work the equivalent of a 37 hour week over the following shift cycle, including Saturdays and Bank Holidays (enhancements are paid for these):
Week 1 - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Week 2 - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Week 3 - Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday
About you (some key responsibilities):
As a Loader you will bring to the role:
- Work as part of a team, to collect waste and recycling in a variety of containers, from a variety of locations as scheduled in the Leeds City and surrounding areas.
- Able to provide support to the Chargehands and Team Leaders in dealing with any collection issues for example identifying and suggesting solutions to regular access issues, how to increase recycling rates, dealing with problems caused by side waste/overflowing bins.
- Committed to promoting and displaying positive behaviours, and an understanding of why equality diversity and inclusion is so important.
- Able to work outside in all weathers, handling and manoeuvring bins and bags safely and walking long distances.
What we offer you:
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
We've built an inclusive place to work, where everyone is welcomed, feels valued and can truly be their authentic self at work. We want our people to be the best they can be, no matter who they are and where they come from. It is important we have a workforce representative of the communities we serve. We have made significant improvements within our management/supervisory posts, however our operational part remains largely unrepresentative. We are therefore particularly keen to receive applications from women and ethnically diverse groups.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .
How to apply:
We are holding 3
open days at the below locations. If you attend one of the open days, you can learn more about the role and ask any questions, meet some of the team including staff who are currently in those roles, and apply in person. We can provide support with completing your application at the open days. If you require any adaptations to enable you to attend the open days please contact (
[email protected]) and we will try our best to assist.
Alternatively you can apply now via the
apply for this job button and completing the online application form. We may close online applications early if we receive a high volume of applicants.
Tuesday 25 th March - Seacroft Community Hub, 3 Seacroft Avenue, LS14 6JD - 10:00 to 13:30.
Wednesday 26 th March – The Reginald Centre, 263 Chapeltown Road, LS7 3EX – 10:00 to 14:00.
Thursday 27 th March - Newmarket House, Newmarket Approach, LS9 0RJ - 10:00 – 14:00.
Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 7 th April at Newmarket House, Newmarket Approach, LS9 0RJ.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds and the communities we serve. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six month probationary period.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the 'standard' salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.
Leeds City Council Job Profile
Directorate Communities & Environment
Service Area Environmental Services
Job Title Loader
Grade A3
Conditions Of service NJC
Reports to Team Leader / Crew Chargehand
Responsible for None
Job Purpose
To provide a safe, flexible, high quality, efficient and reliable waste and recycling collection service that meets the needs of residents and delivers the waste strategic objectives to minimise waste sent to landfill and increases household waste recycling rates to greater than 60%.
Responsibilities
Reliable:
- Working as part of a team, to collect waste and recycling in a variety of containers, from a variety of locations as scheduled in the Leeds City and surrounding areas.
- To note changes on task sheet and ensure such changes are implemented on a daily basis
- To feedback and clearly identify any collection failures and reasons for that failure.
- To feedback and highlight any issues with the accuracy of route sheets and maps.
- Issue relevant bin stickers/labels where appropriate to assist members of the public to re-present bins accordingly.
Safe:
- Wear any issued protective clothing, boots, gloves, high visibility jackets etc as required by safe working practices and associated guidance
- Ensure that all Health and Safety Regulations are observed and in particular safe work instructions 19a and 19b are complied with, g. lifting and handling waste, safe reversing procedures
- Assist the driver by reporting any vehicle defects noticed in the course of a day and assisting in keeping the vehicle cab clean and free from hazardous objects.
- Report all accidents and incidents immediately and ensure appropriately recorded.
- Act as reversing assistant, to permit the driver safe manoeuvring of the vehicle on the round or at the disposal location
- Follow disposal site rules at all times
Efficient
- To follow and ensure that all service processes and procedures within your responsibility (including attendance) are complied with.
- Attend training courses as necessary. In exceptional circumstances, these may take place whilst off shift
- To ensure that any problems are communicated to the supervisor on a daily basis, by verbal and/or electronic means.
- Work with the driver to ensure that buddying up arrangements are complied with and assistance is provided to other rounds working in proximity who are struggling to complete due to high volumes, breakdown or other genuine delay.
- Answer queries from the members of the public in a polite manner, using customer care principles and respond positively to queries from any authorised officer.
- Operate any technology fitted to the vehicle for recording purposes
- To work with and assist management in producing and successfully implementing new working arrangements e.g. AWC , food waste collections, new technology
- Report suggestions for improvements to the service to Management to increase efficiency and quality in service delivery
Other
- It should be noted that this job description is subject to occasional changes to incorporate other commensurate duties and responsibilities in response to organisational change/review and to assist flexibility. The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.
- Ability to understand verbal and written instructions and follow daily work patterns
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to walk long distances – lift, twist and handle objects
- Ability to manipulate wheel bins and operate lift mechanisms
- Ability to communicate to the public
- Knowledge of the importance of dealing with members of the public in a polite and courteous manner
- Accept that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility
- Willing to work unsocial hours at short notice
- Willing to undergo further training
- To wear appropriate clothing as required
Essential Behavioural And Other Characteristics
- Willing to abide by the service’s behavioural standards
- Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
- Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
- Be aware of and be able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies.
- Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
- Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
- Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all, working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.
- Knowledge of Health and Safety procedures
- Knowledge of quality assurance procedures
- Knowledge of the local Authority
- Experience of working in a similar environment
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