General Manager

Primary Services; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Primary Services is seeking a General Manager to own a major recycling operation, leading both a Single Stream MRF and Commercial Recycling plant. You will manage a 15+ person team, drive production, safety, staffing, maintenance, and cost per ton, while building a high-performing operations culture.

This role offers autonomy to improve uptime, quality, and labor efficiency, with reporting to leadership and collaboration with sales, accounting, HR, and EHS. Bachelor’s degree required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of General Manager, Plant Manager, or comparable operational leadership experience.
• Experience directly leading teams of 15+ employees.
• Experience in recycling, waste management, manufacturing, industrial operations, or a similar plant environment.
• Experience managing facility budgets, P&L performance, labor costs, operating expenses, and operational KPIs.
• Experience overseeing production, maintenance, staffing, safety, and continuous improvement programs.
• Ability to accommodate an on-call and fluctuating schedule based on facility needs.
• Experience managing capital projects and operational improvement initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across recycling and material recovery operations.
• Lead, coach, and develop Operations Managers, supervisors, and frontline employees across a team of 15+.
• Manage facility budgets, P&L performance, operating expenses, labor costs, downtime costs, and cost per ton.
• Drive throughput, equipment uptime, recovery rates, product quality, and overall operational efficiency.
• Monitor operational and financial KPIs to identify trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability, safety, and efficient operation.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound material movement with transportation and logistics.
• Partner with sales, commodities, accounting, HR, EHS, and corporate leadership to support facility performance.
• Provide daily, weekly, and monthly operational and financial reporting to leadership.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers and suppliers.

Skills

General Manager

Team leadership

P&L management

Budget management

Recycling industry experience

Operations planning

Maintenance oversight

On-call availability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Join a nationally recognized leader in sustainable materials management, operating 35+ facilities across the United States and serving municipalities and businesses with innovative recycling and organics solutions. Managing millions of tons of recyclable materials each year, the organization combines advanced technology, operational excellence, and a commitment to environmental impact to drive the circular economy forward. This is an opportunity to join a growing organization, lead a large operational team, and build a long-term career with room for continued growth.

The General Manager will take ownership of a major recycling operation, leading both a Single Stream Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Commercial Recycling plant. This highly visible leadership role oversees a team of 15+ employees while driving production, safety, staffing, maintenance, material flow, P&L performance, and continuous improvement. The General Manager will have significant autonomy to improve productivity, uptime, quality, labor efficiency, and cost per ton while developing a high-performing operations team.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across recycling and material recovery operations.
• Lead, coach, and develop Operations Managers, supervisors, and frontline employees across a team of 15+.
• Manage facility budgets, P&L performance, operating expenses, labor costs, downtime costs, and cost per ton.
• Drive throughput, equipment uptime, recovery rates, product quality, and overall operational efficiency.
• Monitor operational and financial KPIs to identify trends and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee maintenance programs to ensure equipment reliability, safety, and efficient operation.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, payroll coordination, hiring, onboarding, and vacancy coverage.
• Maintain and audit SOPs, standard work, training, and certification programs.
• Lead capital projects and operational initiatives from planning through execution.
• Champion safety programs, incident investigations, corrective actions, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate inbound and outbound material movement with transportation and logistics.
• Partner with sales, commodities, accounting, HR, EHS, and corporate leadership to support facility performance.
• Provide daily, weekly, and monthly operational and financial reporting to leadership.
• Maintain strong relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Provide on-call leadership and adjust schedules based on operational requirements.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of General Manager, Plant Manager, or comparable operational leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience directly leading teams of 15+ employees.
• Experience in recycling, waste management, manufacturing, industrial operations, or a similar plant environment.
• Experience managing facility budgets, P&L performance, labor costs, operating expenses, and operational KPIs.
• Experience overseeing production, maintenance, staffing, safety, and continuous improvement programs.
• Ability to accommodate an on-call and fluctuating schedule based on facility needs.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience managing capital projects and operational improvement initiatives preferred.