Operations Manager - Waste

InterGroup; Howick; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Intergroup in Auckland is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead our waste processing, recovery, transport and disposal operations. This hands-on role combines strong commercial leadership with a practical, mechanical mindset to solve problems on the plant floor.

You’ll own budgets, drive productivity, oversee maintenance, and coach site teams to deliver safety, reliability and performance. The role requires balancing costs with growth opportunities and stakeholder collaboration.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading complex operational environments.
• Strong commercial understanding, including budgets, costs, productivity and financial performance.
• Experience managing people, plant, equipment and multiple priorities.
• Mechanical or engineering mindset with ability to troubleshoot and solve practical problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead Auckland waste processing, recovery, transport and disposal operations.
• Own operational budgets, costs, productivity and financial performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, utilisation and efficiency.
• Develop and implement operational plans aligned with wider strategy.
• Monitor KPIs and translate data into action.
• Drive safety, environmental and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Mechanical mindset

Strategic planning

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Communication

Stakeholder management

Accountability

Tools

Maintenance planning

Root cause analysis

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

At Intergroup, we do more than manage waste. We collect, treat, recover and process a wide range of hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams across New Zealand, helping our customers manage complex waste challenges safely, efficiently and responsibly.

We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead our Auckland operations — someone who combines strong commercial and operational leadership with a practical, mechanically minded approach to solving problems.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll have responsibility for people, plant, performance and profit.

You’ll be responsible for making sure our operations run safely and efficiently, our plant and equipment perform at their best, our teams are well led, and we continue to identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce costs and grow the business.

If you’re the type of person who can move comfortably between a discussion about commercial performance and a plant floor conversation about why a piece of equipment isn’t working properly, this could be the role for you.

What you’ll be doing

Commercial & Operational Leadership

• Lead the overall performance of our Auckland waste processing, recovery, transport and disposal operations.
• Take ownership of operational budgets, costs, productivity and financial performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins, utilisation, efficiency and return on investment.
• Develop and implement operational plans that support Intergroup’s wider business strategy.
• Monitor key operational and financial performance indicators and turn data into action.
• Identify opportunities to improve customer service, operational capability and revenue.
• Manage suppliers, contractors and key stakeholders to achieve the best commercial and operational outcomes.
• Drive a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.

Plant, Equipment & Problem Solving

• Ensure plant, machinery, fleet and equipment are safe, reliable and fit for purpose.
• Troubleshoot operational and mechanical issues and work with maintenance teams to identify root causes.
• Balance maintenance, production and capital expenditure priorities against commercial outcomes.
• Look for smarter ways to use technology, equipment and processes to improve performance.
• Lead site teams.
• Build a high-performing culture focused on safety, productivity, accountability and customer outcomes.
• Coach leaders and operators to improve capability and performance.
• Ensure teams understand operational priorities and have the tools and support to deliver.
• Build strong relationships across the wider Intergroup business.

Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Management

• Maintain high standards of health, safety and environmental performance across all operations.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, waste, transport and health and safety requirements.
• Manage resource consents, regulatory reporting and stakeholder relationships.
• Identify and manage operational risks while ensuring compliance remains a fundamental part of how we operate.

About you

We’re looking for an operations leader with commercial nous and a strong technical mindset.

You may come from waste management, resource recovery, manufacturing, engineering, quarrying, civil construction, logistics, heavy industry or another environment where plant, equipment and operational performance are critical.

You’ll bring:

• Proven experience leading complex operational environments.
• Strong commercial understanding, including budgets, costs, productivity and financial performance.
• Experience managing people, plant, equipment and multiple operational priorities.
• A strong mechanical or engineering mindset with the ability to troubleshoot and solve practical problems.
• Experience identifying the root cause of operational issues and implementing sustainable solutions.
• Strong understanding of maintenance, plant reliability and equipment performance.
• A track record of driving continuous improvement and delivering measurable results.
• Strong health, safety, environmental and regulatory awareness.
• Excellent planning, analytical and decision-making skills.
• The ability to work strategically while still being comfortable getting out into the operation and getting your hands dirty when required.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A leadership style built around accountability, collaboration and getting things done.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in an operation where good leadership, smart thinking and practical problem-solving make a genuine difference.

You’ll have the autonomy to influence how we operate, improve the performance of our plant and people, identify commercial opportunities and help shape the future of our Auckland operations.

We’re looking for someone who doesn’t just manage an operation — they understand it, challenge it and make it better.

If you’re commercially driven, operationally strong and mechanically minded, we’d like to hear from you.