Commercial Manager

Biffa Waste Services; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading waste management company in Ipswich is seeking a Commercial Manager to drive profitability and manage key client relationships. You will oversee project finances, deliver insightful reports, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in sales, contract negotiation, and waste management regulations, along with proven operational improvement skills. The role also offers competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Ongoing career development

Competitive salary

Generous pension scheme

Retail and leisure discounts

Holiday and travel discounts

Life cover

Qualifications

• Proven experience in sales, marketing, and contract preparation.
• Strong knowledge of waste industry laws and H&S legislation.
• Clear understanding of recovered commodities markets.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitable, long-term contracts within pricing frameworks.
• Own project finances and deliver monthly performance updates.
• Produce clear reports that inform key business decisions.
• Ensure site operations hit service, financial, and KPI targets.

Skills

Sales experience

Contract negotiation

Operational improvement

Time-critical service delivery

Knowledge of waste industry laws

Education

A-Level/Degree with NEBOSH or IOSH Certificate

Business or waste management qualifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

Business Intelligence reports

Job description

Help us make a difference as an Commercial Manager

A quick look at the role
As Commercial Manager, you’ll own the business unit’s budget, keeping a close eye on costs while driving profitability. You’ll manage key client relationships, spot opportunities for growth, and bring fresh ideas to win new business.

You’ll dig into data, produce insightful reports to uncover cost savings and profit opportunities, stay ahead of regulatory changes, and lead bids and negotiations for contractors joining the Hinkley Point C project.

You’ll oversee the site administration team, making sure Health, Safety and Environmental standards are never compromised.

At a senior level, you’ll work closely with the Operations Manager to ensure the Waste Contract at Hinkley Point C is delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standard.

Join a Landmark Project, Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station
Biffa’s Specialist Services Industrial Division has secured the waste management contract for the build of Sizewell C, a major nuclear power station development in Suffolk.

With a projected 9 to 12-year construction period, this high-profile project mirrors our successful work at Hinkley Point C. Operations will eventually move to a purpose-built Waste Consolidation Centre, but initially, our team will manage the contract directly from the client’s site, overseeing collections, subcontractors, reporting, invoicing, and waste consultancy.

Your core responsibilities.

• Drive profitable, long-term contracts within agreed pricing frameworks.
• Own the project’s finances and deliver monthly commercial performance updates.
• Lead full contract P&L management to achieve year-on-year growth.
• Produce clear, accurate reports that inform key business decisions.
• Partner across teams to deliver innovative, integrated recycling solutions.
• Ensure site operations consistently hit service, financial, and KPI targets.
• Oversee negotiations and maintain watertight compliance with all agreements.
• Keep site administration sharp, accurate, and fully compliant.

Our essential requirements.

• A-Level/Degree with NEBOSH or IOSH General Certificate; business or waste management qualifications (CoTC desirable).
• Proven experience in sales, marketing, tender preparation, and contract negotiation, with a track record of operational improvement and P&L management.
• Strong knowledge of time-critical service delivery, waste industry laws, and environmental and H&S legislation.
• Clear understanding of recovered commodities markets to maximise value.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Teams, and extracting data from BI reports.
• Desirable: business-related degree, professional or sales qualifications, production management knowledge, and construction site experience.

And here’s why you’ll love it at Biffa.

• Ongoing career development, training and coaching – Because if you don’t grow, we don’t grow.
• Competitive salary.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Retail and leisure discounts.
• Holiday and travel discounts.
• Life cover.

Changing the way people think about waste.

At Biffa, we love working with waste. Whether we’re turning it into sustainable power, finding new ways to recycle it or simply keeping it off the streets, we believe every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of millions. It’s a view that’s shared by our 11,500+ people around the country, who trust us to provide them with a career that’s always rewarding, often challenging, but never dull. And it’s why we’re the UK’s No. 1 choice for business waste management.

Dedicated to diversity.

Being inclusive is core to our culture at Biffa; we believe different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds are key to developing a creative and effective working environment that represents our communities and generates the best outcomes for colleagues, customers and stakeholders, which is why you’ll find us championing diversity, equity and inclusion at every turn.