Job summary
This Trust-wide leadership role, reporting to the Head of Facilities, holds full responsibility for managing the Derriford Waste Management Service (DWMS), including its workforce, equipment, and compliance with waste and environmental legislation. As the Trust's waste specialist, you'll oversee the incinerator operations, manage commercial contracts, drive revenue, and ensure regulatory compliance. You'll lead on developing and implementing waste policies, audits, and sustainability initiatives, in line with national targets and the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy. The role also involves preparing strategic business cases for complex waste projects and supporting Trust-wide engagement through training, collaboration, and expert guidance across all UHP sites.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
This role provides strategic leadership for quality improvement and waste reduction programmes, driving change through policy development, project management, and contract work. It ensures Trust-wide compliance with waste legislation, HTM 07-01, and sustainability targets, while leading and supporting the DWMS team to deliver high performance and maintain staff wellbeing. The post-holder will embed new waste initiatives into routine practice, deliver training on recycling and sustainability, and provide assurance to the Board on statutory compliance. They'll also shape long-term waste strategies, shifting from incineration to more sustainable methods, while identifying income-generating opportunities through local and national networks.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role is central to shaping and delivering the Trusts waste management and sustainability strategy, with responsibility for policy development, implementation, and ensuring full legislative compliance across a wide range of regulations including HTM 07-01, COSHH, PUWER, and the Environmental Protection Act. The post-holder will lead on improving performance against the waste hierarchy, driving innovation, embedding circular economy principles, and managing risk through robust KPI monitoring and reporting. They will also develop contingency plans, lead on sustainability campaigns, and oversee the investigation and resolution of complaints and incidents.
A key part of the role involves generating monthly performance reports, overseeing the use of national waste tools, supporting statutory data returns (such as ERIC and NEAT), and helping the Trust meet NHS Net Zero Carbon targets. The post-holder will identify and lead on initiatives that improve recycling, waste segregation, and waste reduction including new technologies, reuse schemes, and supplier engagement while also raising awareness and supporting staff education across clinical and non-clinical teams.
Operationally, they are responsible for the Trusts incinerator, DWMS service delivery, budget management, and contract performance. This includes managing the waste and DWMS cost centres, authorising payments, and ensuring financial sustainability. The role requires working across departments to build effective relationships, contribute to capital development schemes, support procurement processes, and promote sustainable product choices.
With a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration, the role involves liaising with internal and external stakeholders from front-line staff to regulatory bodies ensuring statutory waste recordkeeping, developing training (including e-learning), and championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. The post-holder will also represent the Trust in environmental and health and safety forums, providing high-level strategic insight through data analysis and reporting, and ensuring the Trust remains compliant, sustainable, and forward-looking in all waste-related operations.
Please see the JD for more detail.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role is central to shaping and delivering the Trusts waste management and sustainability strategy, with responsibility for policy development, implementation, and ensuring full legislative compliance across a wide range of regulations including HTM 07-01, COSHH, PUWER, and the Environmental Protection Act. The post-holder will lead on improving performance against the waste hierarchy, driving innovation, embedding circular economy principles, and managing risk through robust KPI monitoring and reporting. They will also develop contingency plans, lead on sustainability campaigns, and oversee the investigation and resolution of complaints and incidents.
A key part of the role involves generating monthly performance reports, overseeing the use of national waste tools, supporting statutory data returns (such as ERIC and NEAT), and helping the Trust meet NHS Net Zero Carbon targets. The post-holder will identify and lead on initiatives that improve recycling, waste segregation, and waste reduction including new technologies, reuse schemes, and supplier engagement while also raising awareness and supporting staff education across clinical and non-clinical teams.
Operationally, they are responsible for the Trusts incinerator, DWMS service delivery, budget management, and contract performance. This includes managing the waste and DWMS cost centres, authorising payments, and ensuring financial sustainability. The role requires working across departments to build effective relationships, contribute to capital development schemes, support procurement processes, and promote sustainable product choices.
With a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration, the role involves liaising with internal and external stakeholders from front-line staff to regulatory bodies ensuring statutory waste recordkeeping, developing training (including e-learning), and championing equality, diversity, and inclusion. The post-holder will also represent the Trust in environmental and health and safety forums, providing high-level strategic insight through data analysis and reporting, and ensuring the Trust remains compliant, sustainable, and forward-looking in all waste-related operations.
Please see the JD for more detail.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Detailed proven knowledge of health and safety legislation with regards to waste management.
- Proven knowledge of all aspects of running a permitted waste processing facility (as evidenced through WAMITAB L04 qualification)
- Highly developed specialist proven knowledge relevant to the role underpinned by theory and practice.
- Detailed proven knowledge of waste legislation
- Track record of developing and delivering waste and resources initiatives and delivering tangible outcomes and improved performance.
- Demonstrable experience of site wide, multi-department waste auditing against policies and procedures.
Desirable
- Proven Knowledge of clinical waste strategy in a large clinical setting/organisation
- Demonstrable experience of waste management within a large organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject area (waste and/or environmental management, science, or engineering) or proven knowledge and demonstrable experience equivalent to a master's degree.
- Membership of a relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM)
- IOSH qualified or equivalent
Desirable
- Chartered Member of a relevant professional body such as CIWM or IEMA.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Detailed proven knowledge of health and safety legislation with regards to waste management.
- Proven knowledge of all aspects of running a permitted waste processing facility (as evidenced through WAMITAB L04 qualification)
- Highly developed specialist proven knowledge relevant to the role underpinned by theory and practice.
- Detailed proven knowledge of waste legislation
- Track record of developing and delivering waste and resources initiatives and delivering tangible outcomes and improved performance.
- Demonstrable experience of site wide, multi-department waste auditing against policies and procedures.
Desirable
- Proven Knowledge of clinical waste strategy in a large clinical setting/organisation
- Demonstrable experience of waste management within a large organisation.
Qualifications
Essential
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject area (waste and/or environmental management, science, or engineering) or proven knowledge and demonstrable experience equivalent to a master's degree.
- Membership of a relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM)
- IOSH qualified or equivalent
Desirable
- Chartered Member of a relevant professional body such as CIWM or IEMA.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
