Operations Manager – Waste Services (Interim / Service Recovery)

Office-based, 5 days per week

3 months initial contract (likely extension)

Flexible – please state your day rate

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to take immediate, hands-on responsibility for stabilising and improving Waste Services within a local authority setting.

This is a frontline, operational role, not a purely strategic or advisory position. You will be embedded within the service, working closely with managers, supervisors, and crews to restore performance, improve standards, and ensure reliable day-to-day delivery.

• Take direct control of day-to-day waste service operations
• Identify service failures, inefficiencies, and performance issues, and implement immediate practical solutions
• Provide visible, hands-on leadership to frontline teams, supervisors, and managers
• Improve route efficiency, workflows, and operational processes
• Ensure compliance with health & safety, statutory requirements, and council standards
• Monitor service performance, KPIs, and outputs, reporting regularly to senior leadership
• Support resource planning, task allocation, and prioritisation across the service
• Act as a key escalation point, resolving operational issues quickly and effectively

• Proven experience managing waste, refuse, recycling, or environmental services operations
• Strong track record of improving or stabilising underperforming services
• Experience working in a local authority or contractor environment (e.g. waste services providers such as Biffa, Veolia, SUEZ, Amey)
• Hands-on leadership style, comfortable working directly within depot and frontline operations
• Strong understanding of fleet, routes, depots, and service delivery
• Ability to lead teams, solve problems quickly, and drive measurable improvement
• Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills

• Service performance stabilised with clear, measurable improvements
• Operational control and structure re-established
• Backlogs reduced and key service failures resolved
• Teams working consistently to defined processes and standards
• Practical recommendations implemented for longer-term sustainability

• This is a high-impact interim assignment requiring immediate on-site presence
• You will work under the direction of senior leadership but will be expected to take ownership of operational decisions
• Ideal for candidates who thrive in fast-paced, turnaround environments