Materials Trading Coordinator

Role: Materials Trading Coordinator

Location: Preston, PR2 plus occasional travel required to other operational sites

Hours: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Salary: £30,000 – £40,000 per annum, dependent on experience

The Role:

Are you highly organised, commercially minded and confident working with data, logistics and multiple stakeholders?

At Recycling Lives Services (RLS), we're looking for a proactive and detail-focused Materials Trading Coordinator to join our growing business.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role within our Materials Trading function, supporting the movement and sale of recyclable materials and ensuring transactions are managed accurately and efficiently from initial agreement through to dispatch, invoicing and reconciliation.

Working at the heart of our trading operations, you'll be the vital link between our Trading, Transport, Operations and Finance teams, helping to keep materials moving, information accurate and commercial commitments on track.

The Business:

Recycling Lives Services is not a typical recycling company. Since 2008, the business has been structurally built around social value, employing people from disadvantaged backgrounds, partnering with the justice system to reduce reoffending, and delivering environmental excellence at scale. The social mission is not a layer added on top of commercial activity. It is the reason the business operates in the way it does.

As a certified B Corp (scoring 103.5 against a business median of 50.9), Recycling Lives Services generated £42.9m in social value in 2024, achieved a 61% reduction in CO2 emissions, and diverted 97% of waste from landfill. 15% of our team have been welcomed through our rehabilitation programmes, and only 6% of people we support reoffend — compared to a national average of over 25%.

We operate UK-wide across construction, manufacturing, retail, utilities and public sector markets, offering total waste management, WEEE recycling, and specialist hazardous waste services.

Our PACE values underpin how we work and the culture we are building across the business: Passion – we care about what we do; Accountability – we take responsibility; Collaboration – we work together respectfully; and Excellence – we aim high. We look for people who share these values and want to make a positive contribution to our business, our customers and the communities we support.

What You'll Be Doing:

As Materials Trading Coordinator, you'll provide essential operational and administrative support to the trading team, ensuring material sales are executed smoothly and in line with commercial agreements and regulatory requirements.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating and tracking material sales orders from agreement through to dispatch and invoicing.
• Maintaining accurate sales, pricing, tonnage and stock information across internal systems.
• Reconciling customer and off-taker reports against internal data, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Working closely with Transport and Operations to coordinate the timely movement of materials.
• Monitoring stock levels, sales commitments and contractual requirements.
• Preparing accurate invoicing information and supporting the Finance team with timely processing.
• Maintaining supplier and customer agreements, compliance documentation and reporting dashboards.
• Supporting waste transfer and shipment documentation requirements.
• Liaising professionally with customers, suppliers, hauliers and internal stakeholders.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, reporting accuracy and operational efficiency.

What We're Looking For:

We're looking for someone who enjoys working in a busy, commercially focused environment and takes pride in getting the detail right.

Ideally, you'll bring:

• Previous experience in a coordination, logistics, trading support, commercial administration or similar role.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and confidence working with figures, reports and data.
• Good Excel skills and experience using business management or reporting systems.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach to resolving queries and discrepancies.
• The ability to work independently while contributing positively to a wider team.

Experience within recycling, waste management, materials trading, logistics or manufacturing would be advantageous, but we're equally interested in candidates with strong transferable skills and the right attitude.

Why Join Recycling Lives Services?

At Recycling Lives Services, we're passionate about delivering innovative recycling and resource recovery solutions that make a positive difference to people and the planet.

As our business continues to develop and grow, we're investing in our people, processes and operational capabilities to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

Joining RLS means becoming part of a business where your contribution matters. You'll have the opportunity to work across different functions, develop your commercial and operational knowledge, and play a meaningful role in supporting our continued growth.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• The opportunity to work for a certified B Corp making a genuine social and environmental impact.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Company pension (5% employee / 3% employer).
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye test vouchers
• Free financial wellbeing support
• Healthcare Cash Plan.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.

Available after 12 months' service.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.