Shovel Driver Plant Operative - Braintree Waste Transfer Station
Essex County Council
£25081.00-28033.00 per year
Braintree, Essex, CM7, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by parents
- Respectful managers
About Essex County Council
Essex County Council is a local authority. They oversee local services.
Job description from Essex County Council
Permanent, Full Time
£25,081 to £28,033 per annum
Location: Braintree
Working Style: Fixed-base worker
Please note in addition to an annual salary you will also receive a 6% flat rate allowance for taking part in a weekend rota.
The Opportunity
A multi-task role from managing and controlling all tipping hall operations to being accountable for ensuring articulated vehicles are loaded safely and in accordance with KPI's within the Essex County Council Waste service. Manging on site traffic management for multiple local district councils and 3rd Parties to ensure contractual tipping arrangements are met and carried out safely.
Directly responsible for the safe and proper operation and maintenance of any site vehicle under their use. This includes liaising with Site Supervisor/Operations Manager for repairs and servicing of all equipment on site including scheduling works/contractors to avoid impact on the service.
Responsible for operating the front-loading shovel and 360-degree wheeled materials handler to move, load and transport waste safely and competently.
Lead on ensuring all site users within the tipping hall operation are following site rules and in accordance with Health and Safety and Environmental policies and procedures.
Accountabilities
- Lead on all mobile plant operations as required to safely contain and manage waste tipped form RCV's, including pushing up waste using the loading shovel as well as loading lorries.
- Accountable for following the site-specific rules at all waste facilities operated by Essex County Council.
- Manage all site users to comply with site rules and where required enforce site rules by inducting and training individuals.
- Accountable for the Pre-use inspections of the plant or equipment assigned for operation, reporting any defects prior to shift start as well as undertaking general maintenance and preventive maintenance activities.
- When not operating plant/vehicles other duties may be required such as Weighbridge or assisting the site supervisor with site inspections/paperwork.
- Responsible for routine cleaning to ensure the site is free from litter and to contain and dispose of any spillages.
- To ensure that all resources used (e.g. equipment, machinery and buildings) are kept safe, in good order and condition and are not exposed to the risk of loss, damage or theft.
- To immediately report any contamination or non-conforming wastes delivered to site, accidents, incidents, near misses and environmental hazards to your line manager.
- To carry out any other duties commensurate with the post as required to meet the needs of the service.
The Experience You Will Bring
- Qualifications/Training - Full valid driving licence. Material Handler and Loading Shovel Qualification desirable but not essential as full training will be provided. Previous experience of working within the waste industry is desirable but not essential.
- Knowledge -Understanding of waste operations is desirable. Mechanical knowledge.
- Experience - Previous experience operating plant machinery preferably within the waste industry. Experience working with the public is desirable. Manual handling experience.
- Skills - Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Able to understand written and verbal instruction.
- Character - Self-motivated with the willingness to undertake further training when required. Able to work outdoors for long periods and in all weather conditions with appropriate protective clothing/equipment.
- Availability/Locality/Mobility - You will be largely based at a council Waste Transfer Station but may be required to work at any other location as required.
To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.
Downloads
Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours
|fill:rgba(255,157,151,0.5)|width:2|enc:wnq|Hsv~A|GodDnYm_Dfj@ouCvy@}fCjgAetBxrA_~Av{AydAvaBsi@zdBcMxdBxMtaBdj@n{AheAtrAd~AbgAftBpy@tfC`j@~tClYz~CzGxcD{GxcDmYz~Caj@~tCqy@tfCcgAftBurAd~Ao{AheAuaBdj@ydBxM{dBcMwaBsi@w{AydAyrA_~AkgAetBwy@}fCgj@ouCoYm_D}GodD)
What employees say
Pay
-
Good
-
Most people are paid a living wage
Do Essex County Council pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
71% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 65 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
-
Only some people are paid market rates
Do Essex County Council pay market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
45% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 58 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
-
Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Essex County Council get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
71% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 66 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Good
-
Most people get sick pay
Do Essex County Council pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
80% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 66 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
-
Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Essex County Council do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
38% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
-
Okay
-
Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Essex County Council?
Only some people get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 20% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 20% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 60% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
-
Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at Essex County Council worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
81% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
-
Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Essex County Council workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
43% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
-
Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Essex County Council workers to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
56% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 16 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Okay
-
Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Essex County Council?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
37% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 65 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
-
Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do Essex County Council managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
70% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Good
-
Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Essex County Council?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
70% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 63 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Good
-
Most parents say it’s good
Is working at Essex County Council good if you’re a parent or carer?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
87% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 23 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
-
Good
-
Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at Essex County Council feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
78% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 63 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Okay
-
Only some people get proper breaks
Do people at Essex County Council get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
38% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 63 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
-
Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Essex County Council?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
71% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
-
Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Essex County Council enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
78% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 59 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Okay
-
Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Essex County Council recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
42% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 72 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
-
Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Essex County Council?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
35% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
-
Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Essex County Council?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 42% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 65 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
-
Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Essex County Council head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
75% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 60 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
-
Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Essex County Council is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
41% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 63 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2023 and February 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Essex County Council employees say about their job
-
Best thing
Pay.
Worst thing
Managers have a heavy focus on paperwork and how the statistics look instead of support workers spending their time with the service users, belittle staff when the paperwork isn't completed in their time frame and increase the level of stress that senior staff are under when already stretched by low levels of staffing and silly amounts of different paperwork
Support worker at Essex County Council, August 2024
-
Best thing
Sense of achievement and making a difference.
FlexibilityWorst thing
Expectations
Pay
WorkloadSupport worker at Essex County Council, July 2024
Similar jobs near CM7
Find more jobs like this
CloseSave 11 hours a week searching for something new. We can get you…
- The pay you’re looking for
- The hours that you need
- Jobs close to where you live
Answer a few simple questions and we’ll find something that’s right for you. (You can get back to this job later.)
No thanks, I want to applyApplying will take you to a different website.
Type in your email to save this job
Close
By signing up you’re agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.