General Manager in Training

lrsrecycles; Rosemont (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LRS is seeking a General Manager in Training in Illinois for a 12-month full-time rotational program that develops high-potential leaders for future GM roles. Rotations include Operations, Maintenance, Finance, and Sales with increasing ownership, mentorship, and a final capstone project.

Reporting to the Area Vice President, the program emphasizes safety, talent management, and leadership development while preparing candidates for significant decision-making and operational impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• 4-5 years of frontline management experience, preferably outside the waste/recycling sector (e.g., Cintas, Aramark, Sysco, Amazon, FedEx)
• Exposure to staffing, scheduling, P&L, budgeting, and performance management

Responsibilities

• Develop a clear understanding of LRS values and operational strategies
• Shadow and support site GMs to learn performance leadership, talent management, and compliance
• Participate in company-wide safety programs, employee engagement activities, and community initiatives
• Rotate through key functions: dispatching, DVIR compliance, P&L exposure, customer visits, and more
• Complete a measurable, site-specific capstone project and present findings to leadership
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Operational mindset

Coaching frontline teams

KPIs & reporting

Time management

Spanish fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Equivalent professional experience considered

Job description

Job Summary:

The General Manager in Training is a 12-month, full-time rotational program designed to develop high-potential external leaders for future General Manager roles within LRS. The program includes rotations through Operations, Maintenance, Finance, and Sales with increasing ownership, executive mentorship, and a final capstone project.

Reports To: Area Vice President

Essential Job Duties:

• Develop a clear understanding of LRS values and operational strategies
• Shadow and support site GMs to learn performance leadership, talent management, and compliance
• Participate in company-wide safety programs, employee engagement activities, and community initiatives
• Rotate through key functions: dispatching, DVIR compliance, P&L exposure, customer visits, and more
• Complete a measurable, site-specific capstone project and present findings to leadership
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Scope of Responsibility:

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role. The position does not initially supervise employees, but successful candidates are being developed for future General Manager responsibilities with significant decision-making authority and operational impact.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence across levels
• Operational mindset with comfort in fast-paced, metric-driven environments
• Ability to coach frontline teams and engage drivers, mechanics, and leadership
• Proficiency in systems, KPIs, and operational reporting
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Spanish fluency or multilingual ability is a plus

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent professional experience considered
• 4-5 years of frontline management experience, preferably outside the waste/recycling sector (e.g., Cintas, Aramark, Sysco, Amazon, FedEx)
• Exposure to staffing, scheduling, P&L, budgeting, and performance management

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Regularly required to talk and hear, both in person and by phone or web meetings.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to read and interpret data on a computer screen or printed documents.
• Work is performed in an office environment with moderate noise levels, in a climate-controlled environment with heating and air conditioning.
• May be required to move around the work site and may be exposed to various weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, and snow.
• May be exposed to high noise levels from trucks and machinery while outside typical office setting.
• May be required to lift up to 25 pounds.

Travel Required:

• Up to 20% travel required during the 12-month rotational training period

This job description is designed to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and qualifications required for the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties or qualifications.