Environmental Service Porter

Job overview

Environmental Services are looking for an enthusiastic new team member for waste collection a cross the CUH site.

Environmental Services Porter will assist the Deputy Environmental Service Manager in providing an efficient waste collection service for all wastes generated from the Trust. This will include dirty and infected laundry, cardboard/sharps, biohazard/hazardous clinical wastes and recyclables in accordance with legislation.

Main duties of the job

The main duties include collections of dirty and infected laundry, cardboard/sharps, biohazard/hazardous clinical wastes and recyclables in line with the work schedule. The use of an electric tug to transport waste bins and the use of good manual handling.

Carry out general waste and clinical collections duties of a routine nature on a daily basis which include:

Collect all hospital clinical waste, cardboard and clinical sharps, dirty and infected laundry in accordance with schedules set by the Environmental Services Manager.

Communicate with Ward Management if wastes are not presented for collection in accordance with Policy, and to report non-conformances to the Team Leader.

To respond to radio generated collections in a timely manner, and pass accurate information back to Radio Controller if jobs are unable to be completed.

To ensure that all collections from clinical waste storage areas are completed as per work schedules, and are checked on a regular basis. Collections may vary according to Incinerator plant availability, and own initiative must be used at all times.

To complete tasks unsupervised at all times when on shift.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular position.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have: - applied for a Graduate visa - or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment - or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment

This vacancy will close at midnight on 19th October 2026

Interviews date to be confirmed.

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification:

Skills

Essential

  • Able to communicate effectively using radio
  • Good front of house skills
  • Able to work as part of a team
  • Able to work with minimum supervision
  • Must be flexible with shift patterns

Knowledge

Essential

  • Manual handling techniques
  • Be helpful and understanding of customer needs
  • Understanding of Health & Safety in the workplace

Desirable

  • Knowledge of site and departments

Experience

Essential

  • General work experience dealing with the general public, in a demand led environment
  • Must have experience of working in an industrial environment
  • Experience of general cleaning duties

Desirable

  • NHS experience
  • Shift work
  • Waste Management experience

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good numeric and literary skills

Desirable

  • Computer skills
  • Hold full driving license

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind and excellent

Desirable

  • Experience of dealing with the public in a service led environment
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