General Manager

Veolia; Sharjah; On-site; AED 350,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Veolia Middle East is seeking a General Manager to lead overall plant operations, strategy, budget, safety, and regulatory compliance. The role focuses on maximizing energy production from waste, driving sustainability, and maintaining profitability and environmental standards.

You will oversee daily operations, manage reporting to the board, coordinate reporting managers, and deliver performance improvements across safety, maintenance, and contracts.

Qualifications

• Relevant engineering degree required.
• 5–10 years in waste management or thermal energy facilities.
• Operational leadership experience in industrial settings.
• Experience with environmental compliance and safety regulations.
• Project management including budgeting and reporting.
• Proven leadership and personnel management capabilities.
• Data analysis and performance reporting proficiency.
• Understanding of energy production processes and technologies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily plant operations, safety, and maintenance to ensure smooth functioning.
• Develop and implement efficiency strategies to meet production goals and reduce costs.
• Establish policies, procedures, and schedules to streamline operations.
• Conduct performance reviews and lead staff to meet targets.
• Coordinate activities of reporting managers and ensure accountability.
• Drive safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance across the plant.

Skills

Mobility

PPE use

Manual dexterity

Stamina for long hours

Environments adaptability

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Company Description

For 170 years, Veolia has been a global leader in providing water, energy, and waste management solutions. Serving public authorities and industries across 58 countries, our comprehensive services are essential to human development and sustainable growth. As we progress alongside economic growth and human development, we continuously adapt and innovate, designing solutions that positively impact the environment and conserve resources.

Veolia focuses on local solutions to purify and preserve vital resources, mitigate resource depletion, decarbonize lifestyles and production methods, and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Our mission is to build a better 21st century, and we proudly identify as #resourcers.

Key figures of Veolia Near and Middle East

• Over 3,900 employees in the Middle East (in addition to the nearly 6,000 employees for Enova, which reports directly to Veolia Africa Middle-East for Facility Management and Energy Efficiency contracts in the region)

• A robust local network across the region, including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia

• 40 years of sustainable partnerships

In the Middle East, Veolia collaborates with industries, governments, communities, and commercial businesses to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions needed today, while maintaining a vision for tomorrow. Through public-private partnerships and innovative contractual schemes, Veolia is dedicated to achieving measurable results with pragmatic, sustainable environmental solutions.

For more information, please visit our Website

Job Description

Main Accountabilities :

The General Manager leads overall operations, strategic planning, and performance optimization of the plant. They manage the budget, ensure regulatory compliance, oversee staff, and maintain stakeholder relationships. They are responsible for maximising energy production from waste, implementing safety protocols, driving sustainability initiatives, and ensuring the plant's profitability and environmental standards are met.

The General Manager is accountable for overall plant performance, strategic goal achievement, profitability, stakeholder management, regulatory compliance, team leadership, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

Detailed Job Description:

• Oversee daily plant operations, safety measures, and maintenance activities to ensure smooth functioning.

• Develop and implement efficiency strategies to meet production goals while minimising costs.

• Establish policies, procedures, and production schedules to streamline plant operations.

• Conduct performance reviews and motivate staff to achieve production targets.

• Verify job requests and coordinate activities of directly reporting managers.

• Foster organisational culture, values, and reputation among staff, customers, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.

• Execute General Manager’s responsibilities in accordance with legal and ethical standards.

• Manage daily plant meetings and oversee contract management for operations, safety, and maintenance.

• Handle plant reports for SWTEPM’s client and prepare budget estimates.

• Oversee ISO certification follow-up and ensure customer satisfaction while protecting company interests.

• Review activity analyses and comply with environmental, health, and safety requirements.

• Conduct work activities meeting quality expectations without posing risks to health, safety, or environment.

• Direct overall O&M Company activities and approve contracts, orders, and purchase requests.

• Present quarterly results to the board and manage legal and accounting aspects of the O&M company.

• Uphold safe work environment, avoid operational risks, and maintain objectivity, consistency, and confidentiality.

• Stop Work Authority: Authorized to immediately halt any work activity that poses unacceptable safety, environmental, or asset risks without fear of retaliation.

• Perform additional duties that may be assigned, aligned with the role's level and organisational needs.

• Adhere to all IMS, Finance and Compliance policies and procedures throughout daily operations.

Objectives :

• Optimise plant operations to maximise efficiency, productivity, and profitability while ensuring safety and compliance.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to meet production goals and minimise operational costs.
• Foster a positive organisational culture and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including the client, staff and other regulators.
• Ensure adherence to quality standards, environmental regulations, and health and safety protocols across all operations.
• Manage budgets, contracts, and financial reporting to maintain fiscal responsibility and transparency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including ISO certification and efficiency enhancements.
• Oversee staff performance, providing leadership and motivation to achieve company objectives.
• Represent the company's interests, maintaining its reputation and ensuring customer satisfaction in all activities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Plant efficiency: Measure waste processing capacity and energy production output against established targets.
• Cost management: Track operational costs and budget adherence, aiming for cost reduction without compromising quality.
• Safety performance: Monitor incident rates, near-misses, and compliance with safety protocols and regulations.
• Environmental compliance: Assess adherence to environmental standards and successful completion of regulatory audits.
• Employee productivity: Evaluate staff performance, turnover rates, and achievement of individual and team goals.
• Customer satisfaction: Measure client feedback, contract renewals, and resolution of customer issues.
• Maintenance effectiveness: Track equipment uptime, scheduled maintenance completion, and reduction in unplanned downtime.
• Financial performance: Monitor revenue growth, profitability margins, and return on investment for plant operations.

Qualifications

Required education:

• Relevant engineering degree.

Required experiences:

• Previous experience in a waste management or thermal energy production facility in a managerial role.
• Minimum 5-10 years in waste management or thermal energy production facilities.
• Previous experience in operational leadership roles.
• Experience with environmental compliance and safety regulations.
• Project management experience, including budget control.
• Experience in team leadership and personnel management.
• Proficiency in data analysis and performance reporting.
• Understanding of energy production processes and technologies.

Required skills :

• Ability to move around the workplace, including walking, standing, and climbing stairs, as the job often involves overseeing various areas of operation
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots.
• Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for using computers, handling documents, and potentially operating equipment.
• Capability to work long hours, especially during emergencies.
• Capacity to sit for extended periods while working at a desk or in meetings.
• Ability to work in various environments, which could include offices, warehouses, or production floors, potentially with exposure to different temperatures, waste smells or noise levels

Additional Information

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete or exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities that will be carried out by the selected candidate.

Veolia Middle East does not and shall not discriminate in any forms in its recruitment processes.