Waste Solutions Graduate

•    Join an award-winning team contributing to zero waste by 2040 in Tāmaki Makaurau! 
•    Help educate our kaimahi and communities to reduce, reuse and recycle.
•    Be part of a passionate, diverse team who has no time for bad waste practices! 

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

Guided by Auckland’s Waste Minimisation and Management Plan 2024 (WMMP 2024), our award-winning Waste Solutions team is dedicated to achieving zero waste by 2040. We provide essential services across Auckland, including:

• ‘Three-bin’ collections for recycling, rubbish, and food scraps, plus annual inorganic waste collection.
• Managing and expanding Auckland’s Resource Recovery Network.
• Funding community and business initiatives through the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund.
• Implementing Wastewise Community Engagement programmes.
   

Our mission is to work towards a circular economy, maximizing resource use and caring for people and the environment as well as continuously improving and delivering customer-friendly services. As a Waste Solutions Graduate, you will support a range of environmental services and programme to deliver the Zero Waste aspirations of our Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. 

Our 2-year Graduate Programme will provide you with accelerated learning, development and rotations with exposure to: 

• Waste Enterprise & Refuse - This team looks after waste activities as well as refuse transfer stations, community recycling centres, and operations and maintenance of the Materials Recovery Facility where all of Auckland’s recycling is processed.
• Customer & Operations - This team manages the contracts and compliance for council waste services including Rubbish, Recycling, Food Scraps, Inorganic and Illegal Dumping collections across the region. They also action all the customer queries and requests for service while maintaining an excellent customer satisfaction score. 
• Community WasteWise – This team works with the residents of Tāmaki Makaurau to drive education and behaviour change towards Waste Minimisation. The guiding document for the team is the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan.
•  Waste Planning – This team works with elected members and other stakeholders to develop strategies, operational policies and plans, including the Waste Minimisation and Management Plan. The team also manages licensing for waste collectors and event holders, provides advice on resource consent applications, and runs the Waste Minimisation and Innovation Fund.
• Programme Delivery – This team brings to life new waste minimisation projects such as the delivery of the food scraps service. The food scraps programme of work is ongoing as it seeks to increase participation and expand the service.  The team expand the resource recovery network by building and setting up new community recycling centres. They are also embarking on a programme of work to reduce recycling contamination, not only saving Aucklander’s money (as contamination is costly) but maximising diversion of recycling.
   

Start date: 9 February 2026

He kōrero mōu: About you

You will possess strong customer service skills with a sense of personal ownership and responsibility. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, high attention to detail and time management skills. If you are someone who has a genuine passion for sustainability and waste minimisation then this is the role for you. This is your chance to bring your bright ideas and make a difference! 

We welcome applications from graduates in the following disciplines: 

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Management
• Sustainability
• Commerce
• Education
• Arts
• OR related discipline

To be eligible to apply, you must have the following:
•    Eligibility to work in New Zealand for more than 3 years without sponsorship
•    Minimum of a relevant Bachelor’s degree completed January 2024 – January 2026
•    A valid New Zealand restricted license is desirable as travel will be required

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

Our 2-year Graduate Programme aims to provide you with the opportunities and support you need to launch your career and develop as a future leader or specialist within Auckland Council.  With over 80 areas of business and the chance to work on large-scale projects, we want to see you achieve your goals while making a real difference in the lives of Aucklanders. At the end of the programme, you’ll also be supported in securing a permanent role within one of our Auckland Council entities.

Auckland Council is the largest local government council across Oceania, serving over 1.7 million people and contributing towards making Tāmaki Makaurau a world-class city.
 

We offer a range of employee benefits and proudly support flexible working options where possible.

To view all the benefits we have to offer at Auckland Council visit our Careers website.   
For more information on our Graduate programme visit our Grads, Interns and Cadets page.

Help us make a difference to Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Me Tono Ināianei!: Apply Now!

Find a copy of the position description here.

If you have any support or access requirements, please advise us when submitting your application so we can assist you.

This role has a starting salary of $65,000
Our employer Kiwisaver contribution is additional to base salary offered. 

#workingforauckland

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.