Area Operations Manager

Covanta; Lorton (VA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Benefits

Wellness Program Incentives & Rewards

401k - match up to 7%

Paid Time Off (Vacation & Holiday)

Paid Parental Leave

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral Bonus

Job summary

Reworld is seeking an Area Operations Manager to oversee safe, efficient, and profitable operations across multiple facilities in a regional footprint that includes Fairfax or Alexandria, VA or Montgomery, MD. You will report to the Regional COO and lead operations, maintenance, safety, and engineering teams to deliver results while aligning with corporate initiatives and safety standards.

You will drive a data‑driven, cost‑aware culture, ensuring Lean practices, effective planning, and strong

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or another technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations management with at least 5 years' supervisory experience.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Drive Operational Excellence and asset availability across the region through proactive maintenance and planning.
• Provide visible safety and environmental leadership and implement safety, health and environmental programs.
• Lead P&L management and ensure budget targets are met; drive a high‑performance culture across facilities.
• Coordinate with commercial and functional teams to support growth and effective reporting using KPIs.

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

P&L management

Lean Six Sigma

Team building

Regulatory liaison

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Who we are

For more than 40 years, Reworld has been a leader in sustainable waste solutions, providing our customers with innovative solutions that help them achieve carbon-negative outcomes.

Our Vision

Reworld is leading the charge to a carbon-negative future through revolutionary sustainable materials management solutions that reduce, reuse, recycle and reimagine waste for the benefit of society and the environment.

Our Business

Reworld partners with businesses by offering cutting-edge engineering and innovative solutions, to help customers reduce, reuse, recycle and recover value from waste streams and meet or exceed their sustainability goals.

Our Value

Reworld's differentiator comes from our ecosystem of technology, facilities and partnerships, trusted by the world's largest organizations to reimagine waste management for a smarter, more sustainable world.

About the role

Area Operations Manager

This position is located in Fairfax or Alexandria VA or Montgomery, MD. Reporting to the Regional COO, the Area Operations Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient and profitable operations of multiple facilities in a geographic region. This role ensures effective P&L management across all facilities within their region and manages the integration between the facilities reporting to them and the commercial and functional teams that support their business.

The successful candidate will provide exceptional leadership to coach, empower, and collaborate with the operations teams as well as the commercial and functional support teams including safety, maintenance, and engineering. They will ensure operations are in compliance with all safety, environmental and health, corporate initiatives, while optimizing cost and delivering results. They will drive a high-performance culture by ensuring the right talent, in the right roles, delivering high quality results. This leader will use data driven analyses to ensure the facility managers for TTF and MPFs are running their facilities effectively and efficiently and in a way that supports customer needs and company profitability.

Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• With safety as the priority, drive Operational Excellence and asset availability/ optimization across the region via proactive plant maintenance and planning.

• Provide visible personal safety and environmental leadership. Take an active role in the implementation of safety, health and environmental programs, policies, and procedures.

• Measure performance through audit and tracking KPI's. Provide leadership for the Root Cause Analysis of any incidents. Ensure effective corrective actions are identified and follow through that they are addressed at all locations within the Area.

• Assist facilities with the proactive identification of opportunities to enhance performance and/or reduce risk.

• Ensure a consistent and integrated approach to the operation and maintenance of facilities within the region through effective planning, excellent communication and sharing of information and processes.

• Support growth in the region via collaboration with the commercial teams and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).

• Deliver P&L targets as defined by budget and growth plans via detailed plans around waste mix, routing, and execution to proforma.

• Drive accuracy and consistency of reporting using key performance indicators (e.g., production, operating statistics, labor costs and other operating expenses) and compliance with policies and procedures. Ensure prompt attention to and resolution of issues when required and use lean tools to identify and overcome root cause issues.

• Ensure consistent and integrated approach to the operation and maintenance of Reworld Energy from Waste (EFW) and Material Processing Facilities (MPF) through effective planning, excellent communication and sharing of information and processes, development of contingency plans and follow through on effective execution of plans.

• Drive facility production and equipment availability; addressing potential operating deficiencies; and coordinate both corporate and field support to develop and implement effective operating plans.

• Coach TTF and MPF leaders on safety and P&L management and in executing on planned and unplanned events driving collaboration with the regional maintenance leader and regional engineering leader.

• Communicate, implement, and maintain "best practices" and procedures to drive the definition and utilization of common KPIs to measure operating performance and improve effectiveness.

• Regularly assess talent and identify succession across facilities. Create talent bench through development opportunities.

• Coordinate the preparation and implementation of effective Employee Development and Succession Plans for key positions in Operations and Maintenance, foster the effective use of established HR systems and policies, for hiring, recognition, growth, and development of employees. Utilize the performance enhancement process to maximize employee value.

• Encourage and lead by example, through active community involvement that demonstrates Reworld's value proposition in our communities and marketplace.

• Coordinate and oversee corporate support to ensure successful integration, promoting effective budget management and organic growth initiatives.

• Drive annual and long-term plans that support company goals.

• Drive change management for operations initiatives developed as part of the transformation plan including but not limited to adaptation of new tools, processes, programs.

• Ensure accurate and standard reporting using key performance indicators (e.g., production, operating statistics, labor costs and other operating expenses). Ensure prompt attention to and resolution of issues when required.

• Support assessments of asset performance, analyze and document deviations to ensure lessons are captured and used to keep our policies and programs current and reflective of actual field performance.

• Serve as champion for Lean Management processes. Be a change leader for the entire operations organization.

• Identify process improvements to business needs using Problem Solving Reports (PSRs) and external benchmarks. Create countermeasures to resolve root causes of problems and inconsistencies.

• Partner with engineering and PMO to conduct capital expenditure planning, global engineering standards, budgeting, forecasting, and facility master planning.

• Lead consistent and thorough compliance with requirements of the Reworld Technical Standards Program, coordinate support to assist facilities with implementation, oversight and variance procedures, implement best outage practices, including implementation of outage management team to provide assessment, procurement, and execution oversight with the goal of establishing consistent practices and effective cost control.

• Identify and surface opportunities to leverage new technologies to drive process focused performance.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

This individual must have 10+ years of progressive experience in operations management with at least5 years' supervisory experience in a leadership role, as well as experience leading operations and maintenance execution. This person will have a track record of safety leadership and P&L management, utilizing people effectively and managing tightly against performance commitments and be committed to developing a high-performance culture.

Previous experience with building high performance teams, leading large/complex operations delivering services and outstanding customer satisfaction is a requirement. The technical scope covers "end to end" plant operations and maintenance as it relates to the handling of all incoming waste types (MSW, Profile, RMW, etc.), processing of refuse, boiler operations, turbine generator operations, metals (ferrous/non-ferrous), ash and all auxiliary systems.

Specifically, the successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or another technical degree; advanced degree is desirable; Lean Six Sigma Certification is desirable.

• Previous leadership experience in a specialty chemical, utility, operation and maintenance, heavy industry, intensive asset environment with significant processing equipment and material handling or equivalent.

• Experience managing an organization involving the staffing, mentoring and development of its talent

• Solid business acumen with an understanding of the financial implications on the P&L, new process technology development, scale up, and process improvement. Large operations experience required.

• Ability to drive cultural change and accountability and establish a continuous improvement mindset throughout the organization.

• Strong customer orientation with comfort working in a matrixed organization.

• Ability to drive a culture of dedication to process safety, worker safety and environmental stewardship.

• Understanding of power market dynamics and strategies, plant operation and the intersection of these areas is preferred

• Successful experience interacting with Federal, State and local regulators, legislators, permitting agencies and other community organizations is preferred

Physical Demands

• Ability to walk, stand, sit, and climb

• Ability to lift/carry 50lbs

• Ability to work from heights and in confined spaces

• Qualify to wear a full-face respirator

• Consistently work in various weather conditions

What We Offer You

• Health Care Benefits - start 1st day of employment

• Wellness Program Incentives & Rewards

• 401k - match up to 7%

• Paid Time Off (Vacation & Holiday)

• Paid Parental Leave

• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Employee Referral Bonus

In addition to salary, this roleis eligible for benefits. The benefits would include medical, prescription drug, vision, and dental plans; 401(k) plan; paid parental leave; paid time off; and paid holidays.

Additional details are available at https://www.reworldwaste.com/careers/benefits

For additional information, refer to the Pay Transparency section below.

All Reworld positions require a candidate's ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the role while upholding Reworld's Values, including (but not limited to) contributing to a safe and inclusive workplace, delivering results through trust, and building breakthrough capabilities.

Please note that Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Pay Transparency

Reworld is committed to paying its staff equitably, and we strive to provide competitive compensation and benefits packages. The range below reflects Reworld's reasonable estimate of base pay for this role based on primary posting location. It is expected that most qualified candidates in this location will fall within the posting range. The final salary offered for this role will be determined based on factors including, but not limited to: experience, education, geographic location, skills and competencies, travel requirements and/or union contracts (if applicable). Pay ranges are reviewed from time to time and may be modified in the future.

Reworld provides an industry-leading benefits package that supports the whole person-and their families-through a balanced approach to mental, physical, and financial wellbeing. Regular full-time employees based in the USA have access to comprehensive medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision coverage, FSA, HSA, short- and long-term disability benefits. Our 401(k) plan is industry-leading, with an up to 7% company match. Additional benefits include Company-paid life and AD&D insurance, EAP, paid parental leave, and educational assistance. For more information regarding these offerings, please visit the Reworld Careers Benefits Page. Reworld reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate any benefit plan, in whole or in part, at any time.

Our DEI Commitment

Reworld is an Equal Opportunity Employer, has developed an Affirmitive Action Program (AAP), and will not discriminate against any qualified applicants because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (including perceived disability, physical, mental, and/or intellectual disabilities), veteran status, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Know Your Rights (Click to view poster)

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site because of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by going to Reworldwaste.com and clicking on the 'Contact Us' button. Under Inquires, select 'Careers' in the Interest field, fill out all required fields including your message. In the message section, please note this is a 'Job Application Accommodation Request'.

Attention Staffing Agencies & Search Firms

Reworld may sometimes selectively collaborate with staffing agencies and search firms (Agencies). Reworld will only consider candidates from Agencies with whom a signed agreement and a duly authorized work order (for a specific role)has been duly executed. Any unsolicited candidate submissions or candidate submissions from Agencies that do not meet these criteria, will be deemed invalid and ineligible for any fees.