Careers
There has never been a better time to start your career at Zero Waste Scotland.
As Scotland’s circular economy public body, we work with government, business, and communities to rewire the economy from our current “take, make, waste” model to one where we make the most of the materials we have. A zero waste, circular economy is the right choice - for people, planet and prosperity.
Through an expansive range of projects and programmes, led by our talented and purpose-driven colleagues, our innovative work has shown that embedding circular practices is as possible as it is essential.
Enabled by our brilliant culture and driven by our values, join forces with us and you'll use your expertise and passion to help us achieve even greater reach through valuable collaborations and partnerships. You’ll work hard to make an impact and help us solve some of the toughest challenges on the planet.
You’ll do this by being bold and challenging the status quo.
Everyone at Zero Waste Scotland plays their part in helping Scotland rewire its economy – whether they conduct research and influence Government policy, work with business leaders and local service providers, deliver compelling behaviour change campaigns, improve our internal systems, or look after our people.
Throughout Scotland, you may have noticed some of our work, such as Recycle for Scotland branding or our Ditching Disposable reusable cup schemes.
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Equality, diversity and inclusion
We champion our diverse and inclusive culture, fostering a positive working environment for our colleagues, where we all feel safe to be our true professional selves; where we are treated fairly, inclusion and diversity is embraced; where there is space to ask questions, to respectfully challenge one another and to share our thoughts and ideas.
Our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion has been recognised by Investors in Diversity Accreditation and we are a Disability Confident employer.
Early talent programmes
Our early talent programmes in recent years offer opportunities for modern and graduate apprentices in diverse areas such as business management and procurement, as well as a graduate programme focused on environmental and policy analyst roles. Follow us on LinkedIn for all the latest recruitment opportunities available.
- Work isn’t a place we go, it’s a thing we do (flexibility)
- We provide growth, not just development (growth)
- Be your authentic best self (care)
- Join a team of purpose-driven pioneers (purpose) focus on peer relationships
Our values
Rewiring the economy. Let that sink in for a moment.
Yes, we know, it’s a massive job, right? But all our research and evidence tells us we need to go further and faster in our measures to tackle climate change, by changing the systems within which we live. Our team is dedicated to making systemic change happen to enable circular economies to flourish across Scotland.
Our values reflect this. We pride ourselves on our pioneering approach to work everyday, embracing the opportunity to learn as we go (keeping it real, always with authenticity at heart) and being laser focused on achieving results with greatest impact.
We’re also big on meaningful collaboration to drive change, after all, one organisation cannot rewire an economy all on its own.
Pioneering
- We lead the way in rewiring Scotland’s economy driving innovative solutions that unlock opportunities for change
- We take bold, managed risks to accelerate progress towards a circular economy, recognising that diverse perspectives inspire innovation
- We continuously challenge ourselves to improve and evolve our approach, insuring inclusivity strengthens our impact
Collaborative
- We collaborate with, and through, others to drive lasting change
- We use our knowledge and influence to inspire action, making the case for a circular economy
- We bring people together, to co-design solutions, respecting diverse abilities, experiences and opinions
- We recognise the role we, and others, play in achieving success, ensuring fairness and equality in how we work
Focused
- We prioritise high-impact initiatives and activities to help rewire Scotland’s economy towards circularity, ensuring benefits are fair and far-reaching
- We use data and real-world insights to shape future activities, engaging diverse perspectives to strengthen our approach
- We measure our impact, learn from feedback, and refine our approach for greater effectiveness
- We turn analysis into action, ensuring our work leads to tangible change
Authentic
- We lead by example, embedding circularity in our own actions and policies
- We communicate with honesty and transparency, ensuring our work is evidence-based, accountable and inclusive
- We uphold high professional standards and challenge ourselves and others, regardless of hierarchy, to do better – ensuring fairness in how we work
- We stay true to our mission, keeping people and planet at the heart of what we do and engaging meaningfully with those we impact
Does this sound like how you like to work? Check out our latest vacancies or register for recruitment updates.
Curious to know more?
We believe a zero waste, circular economy is the right choice for people and planet. Find out more about who we are and the impact we’re having.
Who we are?Find out more about what we mean by a circular economy and how it can make a difference to the climate crisis.
Learn moreOur corporate plan 2024-2030 is a rallying cry for Scotland to go even further and faster. Be part of our bold ambition for the future.
Read our planWhy work with us?
The short answer to this question is that quite simply, “it’s a great place to work.” We’re a friendly, flexible and focused organisation playing a really critical role in Scotland’s future.
Join us in rewiring the economy, and enjoy a range of benefits that support your personal and professional growth.
