Operations Manager

Cleanaway Waste Management; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive salary package

Career development opportunities

Paid parental leave

Staff discounts and benefits

Job summary

Cleanaway Waste Management is seeking a hands-on senior operations leader to head a large team at Hillsdale, NSW. Reporting to the Branch Manager, you will drive performance, safety compliance, and daily reporting, while maintaining strong relationships with councils and building managers.

You will lead staff through daily toolbox talks, data-driven reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives to deliver excellent operational outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in operations, logistics, or waste management.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across levels.
• Experience working with councils, building managers, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff allocation, absenteeism, and leave management to ensure operational efficiency.
• Lead daily toolbox meetings and performance discussions to drive accountability.
• Manage and review daily operational reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Liaise with councils, building managers, and key clients to resolve escalations.
• Conduct infield supervision and review complex collection sites.
• Ensure safety compliance and PPE usage, incident prevention, and standards.
• Support Branch Manager with data-driven insights using MS Office.

Skills

Leadership experience

People management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Safety consciousness

Education

Experience in operations/logistics or waste management

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

We transform waste into resources and renewable energy. When you start to think of waste as a resource, it opens a world of possibilities.

Join us and contribute to making a sustainable future possible, together!

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Branch Manager, you’ll lead a large team of over 80 operational staff, driving performance, ensuring safety compliance, managing daily reporting, and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, including council representatives and building managers.

This is a hands‑on leadership role that requires strong communication, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills — ideal for someone passionate about leading people, improving processes, and delivering exceptional operational outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee staff allocation, absenteeism, and leave management to ensure operational efficiency.
• Lead daily toolbox meetings and performance discussions to drive accountability and engagement.
• Manage and review daily operational reports for both internal and external stakeholders, including the City of Sydney.
• Liaise with councils, building managers, and key clients to resolve escalations and improve service delivery.
• Conduct infield supervision and review complex or constrained collection sites (e.g. narrow streets).
• Ensure safety compliance — correct PPE usage, incident prevention, and adherence to company standards.
• Support the Branch Manager with data‑driven insights, using MS Office Suite to interpret and translate performance data into actionable results.

About You

• Proven leadership experience in operations, logistics, or waste management.
• Demonstrated experience working with or managing council contracts and stakeholders.
• Strong people management skills with the ability to motivate and lead large teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills across all levels.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and confident with data reporting.
• Committed to safety, service quality, and continuous improvement.

Why join Cleanaway?

We are Australia’s largest company in this sector, providing essential services to millions of customers and communities nationally.

As a national, high growth, ASX‑listed organisation with more than 10,000 employees, our goal is to be recognised by our customers as the most innovative and sustainable waste management company. We are committed to achieving this while delivering industry‑leading health, safety and environmental (HSE) performance.

• Attractive salary package
• Career development opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Great company benefits: Annual employee share plan offer, novated leasing, optional flu vaccinations, EAP access, discounts on private health insurance, company discounts + much more!

Our Process

We are dedicated to improving employment outcomes and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also welcome candidates of all ages, abilities, gender identities, experiences (including veterans), and cultural backgrounds.

Our recruitment process involves a number of checks including, but not limited to, criminal history, medicals, drug & alcohol testing, as well as verification of qualifications, licences and right-to-work status.

If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact us by emailing [e-mail].

Applications close:

05 Nov 2026 AUS Eastern Daylight Time

Vacancy No

525524

Work Type

Permanent - Full Time

Location

Hillsdale NSW Australia

Categories

Management