Head Of Operations

WasteRecruit Ltd; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

WasteRecruit Ltd has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Operations near Cambridge. The role leads a major site, directing waste processing, recycling, transport, maintenance and customer service to drive safe, compliant and profitable operations.

The successful candidate will oversee site KPIs, financial performance and continuous improvement, ensuring strong leadership and strategic delivery across all functions with a 40-hour week Monday–Friday.

Qualifications

• Substantial (5-10 years) experience in large industrial operations
• Proven experience managing complex operations
• Experience managing a significant workforce
• Advanced knowledge of environmental legislation
• Knowledge of waste management processes
• Sound understanding of environmental and health and safety regulations
• Strong leadership, decision making and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Project management capabilities
• Ability to inspire and manage teams in a safety-first environment
• Hands‑on proactive approach to operational problem solving
• Promote a positive, collaborative and accountable workplace culture

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the site, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient service delivery
• Provide visible leadership across all site functions and act as the senior operational decision-maker
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on safety, accountability and continuous improvement
• Align resources and operational priorities to meet customer demand and business objectives
• Support strategic projects, site development and future growth initiatives
• Oversee all waste treatment, recycling and processing activities
• Maximise productivity, throughput, recovery rates and operational efficiency
• Ensure compliance with environmental, regulatory and customer requirements
• Monitor and report site operational performance against agreed KPIs
• Maintain overall responsibility for site commercial performance and reporting
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers and industry partners
• Resolve customer issues effectively and ensure accurate commercial reporting and record keeping
• Ensure efficient weighbridge operations and documentation processes
• Support the Transport Manager to optimise fleet performance, utilisation and compliance
• Oversee maintenance activities to maximise plant reliability and reduce downtime
• Oversee inventory, consumables and spare parts management
• Ensure effective stock control, equipment tracking and availability of critical supplies
• Monitor stock value, purchasing activity and asset maintenance programmes
• Champion safety and environmental culture across the site
• Work with HSEQ to ensure regulatory and company standards compliance
• Lead investigations into incidents, audits and corrective actions
• Manage site budgets and operational expenditure
• Improve profitability through operational efficiencies and cost control
• Contribute to forecasting, budgeting and business planning
• Ensure accurate reporting and achievement of KPIs
• Lead, develop and support managers and operational teams
• Drive workforce planning, succession planning and capability development
• Manage performance, attendance and conduct with People Team
• Promote collaboration, accountability and a positive workplace culture

Job description

Head of Operations

Cambridge

£-Attractive salary plus package including EV Car Scheme

Our client is a leading name in the provision of industrial site services, waste processing and hazardous waste recycling solutions.

The Head of Operations is responsible for the leadership, performance and strategic direction of the company's site near Cambridge, with full accountability for operational, commercial and financial results. The role oversees recycling, waste treatment, transport, maintenance, stores, weighbridge and customer service functions, ensuring safe, compliant and profitable operations while driving continuous improvement, customer satisfaction and sustainable growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. 1. Site Leadership & Operational Ownership:
   • Lead the day-to-day operation of the site, ensuring safe, compliant and efficient service delivery.
   • Provide visible leadership across all site functions and act as the senior operational decision-maker.
   • Foster a high-performance culture focused on safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
   • Align resources and operational priorities to meet customer demand and business objectives.
   • Support strategic projects, site development and future growth initiatives.
2. 2. Recycling & Processing Operations:
   • Oversee all waste treatment, recycling and processing activities.
   • Maximise productivity, throughput, recovery rates and operational efficiency.
   • Ensure compliance with environmental, regulatory and customer requirements.
   • Monitor and report site operational performance against agreed KPIs.
3. 3. Commercial Management & Waste Acceptance:
   • Maintain overall responsibility for site commercial performance.
   • Work with the Commercial Manager to secure profitable opportunities and manage waste acceptance activities.
   • Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, suppliers and industry partners.
   • Resolve customer issues effectively and ensure accurate commercial reporting and record keeping.
4. 4. Weighbridge, Transport and Maintenance:
   • Ensure efficient and compliant weighbridge operations and documentation processes.
   • Support the Transport Manager to optimise fleet performance, utilisation and compliance.
   • Oversee maintenance activities to maximise plant reliability, minimise downtime and support continuous site improvement.
5. 5. Stores, Stock & Consumables Management:
   • Oversee inventory, consumables and spare parts management.
   • Ensure effective stock control, equipment tracking and availability of critical operational supplies.
   • Monitor stock value, purchasing activity and asset maintenance programmes.
6. 6. Health, Safety and Site Compliance:
   • Champion a strong safety and environmental culture across the site.
   • Work closely with HSEQ to ensure compliance with all regulatory and company standards.
   • Lead investigations into incidents, support audits and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.
7. 7. Financial Performance:
   • Manage site budgets and operational expenditure.
   • Improve profitability through operational efficiencies, cost control and commercial optimisation.Contribute to forecasting, budgeting, investment decisions and business planning.
   • Ensure accurate reporting and achievement of operational and financial KPIs.
8. 8. People Leadership:
   • Lead, develop and support managers and operational teams.
   • Drive workforce planning, succession planning, engagement and capability development.
   • Manage performance, attendance and conduct matters in partnership with the People Team.
   • Promote collaboration, accountability and a positive workplace culture.

Candidate Requirements

• Substantial (5-10 years) experience in large industrial operations, or a related field
• Proven experience managing complex operations
• Experience managing a significant workforce
• Advanced knowledge of environmental legislation
• Knowledge of waste management processes
• Sound understanding of environmental and health and safety regulations
• Strong leadership, decision making and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Project management capabilities
• Ability to inspire and manage teams in a safety-first environment
• Hands‑on proactive approach to operational problem solving
• Promote a positive, collaborative and accountable workplace culture

This is a full time, permanent opportunity working 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday.

Ref: J9738