Senior Manager Resource Recovery

Council Jobs; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Brisbane City Council is seeking an experienced executive to lead its Resource Recovery portfolio, shaping long-term waste strategies and driving value for the city. The Senior Manager will oversee major contracts, strategic partnerships and market engagements, balancing commercial and community needs.

Reporting to a senior governance structure, the role combines operational leadership with long-term vision for resource recovery, alternative treatment technologies, and circular economy

Responsibilities

• Lead Brisbane's Resource Recovery portfolio and drive long-term strategy.
• Provide commercial oversight of major contracts and market engagement.
• Advance opportunities in alternative treatment technologies and circular economy initiatives.
• Guide organisational change, digital enablement and continuous improvement programs.
• Build strong relationships with Council, industry, government and community.

Job description

Help shape the next chapter of resource recovery in Brisbane.

As Brisbane grows, so does the opportunity to rethink how resources are recovered, reused and valued. This role offers the chance to shape long-term resource recovery solutions for one of Australia's largest municipal waste systems and make a lasting contribution to the city’s sustainability.

About Brisbane City Council

As Australia's largest local government, Brisbane City Council delivers services to more than 1.2 million residents across one of the nation's fastest‑growing capital cities. The organisation is responsible for an extensive portfolio of infrastructure, environmental services, community assets and city‑shaping initiatives that support Brisbane’s growth, liveability and long‑term sustainability.

Brisbane's growth and preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games provide an exciting context for shaping the city's future. Waste, resource recovery and circular economy initiatives offer meaningful opportunities to support that growth, strengthen environmental outcomes and create value for future generations.

Within this context, Waste and Resource Recovery Services plays a critical role in delivering essential services while helping shape a more sustainable future for Brisbane. The Senior Manager Resource Recovery will be a key contributor to that journey.

The Opportunity

Brisbane City Council is seeking an accomplished executive to lead its Resource Recovery portfolio and play a central role in designing and delivering that future.

Reporting to the Executive General Manager, Waste and Resource Recovery Services, this executive leadership role is responsible for a significant commercial and operational portfolio encompassing resource recovery centres, major infrastructure, strategic partnerships, commercial contracts and market engagement. The position also provides critical leadership on the future direction of resource recovery, alternative treatment technologies, circular economy initiatives and long‑term waste strategies for the city.

Combining operational leadership with long‑term strategy, you will bring together commercial insight, an understanding of public sector decision‑making and strong stakeholder relationships to advance resource recovery and reduce reliance on landfill over the coming decade.

Key Priorities

• Lead Brisbane's strategic transition towards future resource recovery solutions
• Provide commercial oversight of major contracts and alliance partnerships
• Evaluate and progress emerging opportunities across resource recovery, alternative treatment technologies and waste infrastructure
• Ensure Council remains a sophisticated and informed market participant capable of securing value and managing risk
• Lead organisational change initiatives, including service transformation, digital enablement and continuous improvement programs
• Build strong relationships across Council, industry, government and the broader community
• Contribute to planning and delivery activities associated with Brisbane's ongoing growth and preparations for 2032.

About You

You are an experienced executive who combines commercial judgement, strategic thinking and collaborative leadership.

You may come from resource recovery, waste management, utilities, infrastructure, environmental services, logistics, industrial operations or another asset‑intensive service environment, but your success has been built on leading complex services through change while balancing commercial, community and stakeholder outcomes.

You will bring

• Experience leading large and complex operational or service delivery portfolios
• Strong commercial capability, including contract management, procurement, partnerships and negotiation
• A track record of navigating complex stakeholder and political environments
• Experience leading organisational, cultural and operational change
• The ability to build trusted relationships while maintaining appropriate commercial discipline
• Strong executive communication skills and experience advising senior stakeholders, boards or governing bodies
• A genuine commitment to developing people and creating high‑performing teams

Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to shape Brisbane's sustainable future and deliver lasting value for the community.

Why This Role

Few leadership opportunities offer this breadth of influence on a city's sustainable future.

This role brings together strategy, commercial leadership, public value and long‑term city planning. It offers the opportunity to shape resource recovery partnerships, infrastructure and services that support Brisbane's growth and sustainability.

For a leader looking to make a meaningful contribution while leading a capable team and a significant portfolio, this is a rare opportunity.

Applications close: Midnight, Sunday 22nd November 2026