Description
Lead dynamic frontline services, drive environmental sustainability, and make a direct impact on the vibrant communities of Hackney!
Hackney Council is seeking an exceptional Assistant Director – Environmental Operations and Behaviour Change to lead our high-profile frontline teams and pioneer innovative, community-focused solutions.
In this pivotal senior leadership role (SM2 tier), you will oversee a massive frontline operational engine comprising up to 650 dedicated staff, a gross revenue budget of £45.7m, and high-impact services that touch the daily lives of every resident and business in Hackney. From Refuse & Recycling, Street Cleansing, and Commercial Services to Fleet Management and pioneering Behaviour Change campaigns, you will be at the heart of making Hackney a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable borough.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic & Operational Leadership: Provide overarching direction for 24/7 environmental operations, ensuring exceptional service delivery across street cleansing, waste collection, estate cleansing, and commercial waste.
- Drive Behaviour Change: Execute data-led strategies to engage residents and businesses, driving recycling rates, reducing waste, and fostering long-term environmental responsibility.
- Commercial Growth & Innovation: Expand commercial services to generate revenue, optimize resource management, and lead digital transformation across route planning and customer engagement.
- Asset & Fleet Management: Direct operations at Millfields Depot and Waste Transfer Station, maintaining full compliance with safety, statutory regulations, and Operator’s Licence standards.
- People & Partnerships: Inspire a multi-tiered frontline workforce, foster positive union relations, and collaborate with strategic partners like the North London Waste Authority.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven senior leadership experience in environmental services, public realm, or complex logistics, whether gained in an in-house municipal setting, through major client-side contract management, or within the private waste/environmental sector.
- Robust strategic understanding of statutory waste governance, health & safety frameworks, and compliance standards, with the executive capability to hold operational services to the highest standards of safety and delivery.
- A track record of managing large frontline workforces, navigating union relations, and leading through change.
- Outstanding communication skills, political acumen, and a passion for embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything you do.
Why Join Us? Hackney is one of London’s most vibrant, diverse, and forward-thinking boroughs. This is a rare opportunity to lead dedicated teams, innovate frontline public services, and champion real environmental change at a transformative scale.
Ready to lead the change? Apply now to join Hackney Council’s Senior Leadership Team!