Site Operations Leader — Safety-First Waste Facility

Beauparc; Widnes; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Panda is seeking an experienced Site Manager to lead day‑to‑day operations at one of its processing facilities. This hands‑on role focuses on safety, compliance, plant performance and people management to deliver value and sustainability goals.

You will drive safe operations, maximise throughput, support maintenance, manage resources and coach teams to achieve high performance while liaising with regulators and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operational leadership within a processing, recycling, manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Strong experience managing health, safety, compliance and plant performance.
• Experience leading teams in high‑risk or fast‑paced operational settings.
• Good understanding of waste, recycling, environmental compliance or regulated site operations.
• Strong planning, decision‑making and communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets, labour costs, operational performance and site resources.
• Ability to coach, motivate and develop teams.
• Hands‑on leadership style with visible site leadership.
• Continuous improvement mindset and ability to identify better, safer ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Lead a strong safety‑first culture across the site with safe systems of work and risk assessments.
• Oversee day‑to‑day plant operations including material processing and final disposal.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and environmental permits and internal policies.
• Maximise plant availability, throughput, output quality and efficiency.
• Support preventative maintenance with engineering teams for fixed and mobile plant.
• Manage planning, resources, labour utilisation and daily priorities.
• Coach and develop site teams, fostering accountability and high performance.
• Deliver toolbox talks, safety briefings and investigations as required.
• Monitor KPIs for safety, quality, uptime and productivity; contribute to budget forecasting.
• Collaborate with SHEQ, Compliance, Engineering, Logistics and Commercial teams; engage regulators and partners.
• Champion continuous improvement and better ways of working across the site.

Skills

Operational leadership

People management

Health & safety

Budgeting

Planning & prioritisation

Education

Operations, engineering or environmental science qualification

Tools

Power BI

CMMS

Job description

Panda is seeking an experienced Site Manager to lead day‑to‑day operations at one of its processing facilities. This hands‑on role focuses on safety, compliance, plant performance and people management to deliver value and sustainability goals.

You will drive safe operations, maximise throughput, support maintenance, manage resources and coach teams to achieve high performance while liaising with regulators and stakeholders.