Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

1. Field of work and areas of responsibility 

Certified senior specialists for recycling, waste management and public cleansing are qualified to fulfil job-specific technical, organizational and managerial functions in private and public enterprises of different size as well as in different areas and fields of activity and they are able to adapt flexibly to changed methods and systems, to changing structures of work organization and new methods of organization development and personnel management and development as well as to cooperate in shaping technical and organizational change.
They are qualified and authorized to provide company-based training and further training (training skills).

2. Occupational skills 

Certified senior specialists for recycling, waste management and public cleansing have many years of experience which they have as a rule acquired through relevant initial vocational training and further practical work. In order to perform the above-mentioned tasks, they command the following skills:

2.1 Job-related pedagogical skills

• General basic knowledge
• Cooperation in the recruitment of trainees
• On-the-job training
• Supporting the learning process
• Group training
• Completion of training

2.2 Basic skills

• Legal knowledge
• Knowledge of business management principles
• Application of information, communication and planning methods
• Cooperation in the enterprise
• Observing basic scientific and technical principles

2.3 Job-specific skills

• in the field of technology
• Planning and organizing company operations with due consideration of technical, staff-related, social, legal and economic aspects
• Planning operations including the use of materials and equipment while taking quality and quantity targets and customer needs into account and participating in the planning of new techniques and processes
• Monitoring material flows and technical facilities and controlling operations and logistics processes within the framework of environmental and other company standards
• Taking measures for avoiding and eliminating failures and for maintaining facilities and equipment with due consideration of safety and economic aspects

- in the field of organization

• Controlling costs and performance
• Coordinating measures for cooperation with other company units and third parties
• Ensuring the observance of provisions governing occupational safety and health and environmental protection in close cooperation with competent specialists
• in the field of management and staff- Line management taking into account company objectives and the abilities of the staff
• Encouraging and supporting staff in taking independent and responsible action
• Preparing staff for special psychological demands of the job
• Manpower planning and cooperation in the filling of vacancies
• Encouraging and supporting communication between staff, management and staff representation
• Appraisal of staff
• Ecouraging staff members' innovativeness, development and further training
• Assuming responsibility for training
• Implementing measures for achieving the quality management objectives
• Ensuring that quality assurance measures are taken
• Increasing staff members' awareness of issues concerning information and data protection.

3. Skills accreditation 

According to the Federal Government regulation of 23 February 2005 (Federal Law Gazette BGBl. Part I p. 359), the certified senior specialist for recycling, waste management and public cleansing must have demonstrated the skills listed in section 2 above in an examination administered under public law with a focus on practical application and job-related skills. A certificate is awarded on passing the examination.

4. Examination requirements 

Before sitting the examination for certified senior specialist for recycling, waste management and public cleansing, all candidates must have completed vocational training as recycling and waste management technicians (Fachkraft für Kreislauf- und Abfallwirtschaft) or as supply and waste disposal specialists (Ver- und Entsorger) and at least one year's relevant work experience, or they must have completed vocational training for another recognized occupation and at least two years' work experience, or provide evidence of a comparable qualification.
Furthermore they must prove that they have acquired job-related pedagogical skills and are thus suited to work as instructors.
Courses are offered to prepare candidates for the examination; their duration depends on the various specialist and managerial

Last modified on: April 20, 2007