Head of Operations

Wasterecruit Ltd; Remote; GBP 69,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and optimize all operational activities across their Netherlands sites. This senior leadership role focuses on ensuring regulatory compliance, driving efficiency and sustainability, and enhancing operational performance. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and a proven track record in senior leadership roles within industrial environments. Interested applicants can apply by sending a CV via email.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience within industrial, waste, recycling, energy, or processing environments.
• Strong track record managing multi-site or complex operations with accountability for safety, cost, and delivery.
• Solid knowledge of reliability, maintenance strategy, and asset health.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership of day-to-day operations across all Netherlands sites.
• Drive the reliability and maintenance strategy, ensuring consistent and pragmatic application.
• Manage operational budgets and cost control, delivering within agreed financial targets.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Excellence

Communication

Health & Safety

Financial Acumen

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Logistics, Business Administration, Environmental Science

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and optimize all operational activities across our clients Netherlands sites. This senior leadership role will ensure regulatory compliance, drive efficiency and sustainability, and deliver operational performance aligned with our strategic objectives.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will play a pivotal role in stabilising existing operations, embedding best practice, and taking performance to the next level through structure, discipline, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Performance

Provide overall leadership of day-to-day operations across all Netherlands sites, ensuring safe, stable, and efficient performance.

Lead, coach, and support Plant Managers and site leadership teams, driving ownership, accountability, and consistency of execution.

Embed a strong safety culture, compliance mindset, and visible leadership across all locations.

Operational Excellence

Drive the reliability and maintenance strategy, ensuring consistent and pragmatic application.

Stabilise operations and continuously improve performance through structured processes and governance.

Own and review operational KPIs including safety, availability, throughput, quality, cost, and service.

Ensure strong focus on asset health and reliability, working closely with maintenance and engineering to minimise downtime and risk.

Planning, Cost & Coordination

Oversee resource planning and labour productivity, ensuring the right capabilities are in place.

Manage operational budgets and cost control, delivering within agreed financial targets.

Coordinate effectively between operations, maintenance, logistics, engineering, HR, finance, and commercial teams.

Act as escalation point for operational risks, incidents, and performance issues, ensuring timely resolution.

Support capital projects and upgrades, ensuring alignment with operational needs and minimal disruption.

Stakeholder & Group Leadership

Represent Netherlands operations within group leadership forums, contributing to strategy and continuous improvement initiatives.

Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including municipalities, suppliers, and clients.

Report operational performance and strategic initiatives to senior management.

Experience & Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Logistics, Business Administration, Environmental Science, or related discipline.

Proven senior leadership experience within industrial, waste, recycling, energy, or processing environments.

Strong track record managing multi-site or complex operations with accountability for safety, cost, and delivery.

Hands-on operational background with deep understanding of day-to-day site performance.

Solid knowledge of reliability, maintenance strategy, and asset health.

Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget ownership and cost control.

Experience embedding structure, governance, and performance discipline across teams.

Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, safety leadership, and operational risk management.

Passionate about Health & Safety, reliability, and building sustainable long-term performance.

Results-driven, hands‑on leader with sound judgment and decisive decision‑making.

Pragmatic, structured, disciplined, and accountable.

Excellent communicator able to influence at all levels — from site teams to senior leadership.

Calm, credible, and composed under pressure, with a strong operational mindset and bias for action.

Ready to make a real impact across the Netherlands waste management value chain?

Apply now by sending a cv to [e-mail] or call [phone] quoting reference M9616.