Waste Management Lead

Zutari; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Zutari, a well-established engineering firm, seeks a Senior Waste Management specialist to lead advisory on waste transformation, circular economy strategies and regulatory compliance across corporate clients in Africa.

You will guide feasibility studies, business cases, and implementation strategies, while building lasting client relationships and driving market growth within a multidisciplinary, inclusive team.

Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in science, engineering or environmental management.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience (6+ years in waste management).
• Strong project management and financial management skills.
• Proven leadership and mentoring ability.
• Professional registration: SACNASP or PrEng preferred.
• Experience in waste-to-landfill alternatives and circular economies.
• Knowledge of waste facility design, decommissioning and financial provisioning is a plus.
• Experience with integrated waste management plans and waste strategies.
• Familiarity with the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and related legislation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, report writing.
• Strong business development and client-facing capabilities.
• Willing to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Drive client impact and market growth.
• Identify opportunities in waste management, resource efficiency, and circular economy advisory.
• Lead the development of proposals and client presentations for strategic engagements.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including C-suite executives.
• Translate technical waste management solutions into clear business value propositions.
• Contribute to thought leadership and market positioning in ESG and sustainability.
• Deliver high-quality advisory engagements.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of projects, ensuring quality, timeliness, and commercial success.
• Manage engagement financials, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated, client-centric solutions.
• Advise on regulatory compliance, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.
• Support feasibility studies, business cases, and implementation strategies.
• Lead people and build lasting relationships.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing strategic and technical insight to clients.
• Lead the waste management team.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
• Strengthen client relationships to drive repeat business and long-term value.

Skills

Leadership

Client-facing

Project management

Report writing

Communication

Financial management

Team management

Waste management

Circular economy

Business development

Education

Science/Engineering/Environmental management degree

Job description

Description

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years' experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa.

We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people's lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.

What kind of talent do we pursue?

We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

We are looking for a Senior Waste Management specialist to lead our growing team. In this role, you will advise leading corporates and industries on waste management transformation, circular economy strategies, and regulatory compliance—helping them turn sustainability ambition into measurable business outcomes.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive client impact and market growth
• Identify and shape opportunities in waste management, resource efficiency, and circular economy advisory
• Lead the development of proposals and client presentations for strategic engagements
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including C-suite executives
• Translate technical waste management solutions into clear business value propositions
• Contribute to thought leadership and market positioning in ESG and sustainability
• Deliver high-quality advisory engagements
• Lead end-to-end delivery of projects, ensuring quality, timeliness, and commercial success
• Manage engagement financials, including budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking
• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated, client-centric solutions
• Advise on regulatory compliance, including the National Environmental Management: Waste Act
• Support clients with feasibility studies, business cases, and implementation strategies
• Lead people and build lasting relationships
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing strategic and technical insight to clients
• Lead the waste management team
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing team culture
• Strengthen client relationships to drive repeat business and long-term value

Minimum Requirements

• Degree/Diploma – Science/ Engineering/ Environmental management or related field.
• Minimum 12 years relevant working experience (with at least 6 years in waste management).
• Project management and organisational skills including financial management of integrated projects.
• Leadership and people management skills including development and mentoring of junior resources.
• Professional registration or working towards registration a requirement (SACNASP or PrEng).
• Experience in providing solutions for alternatives to landfill disposal / zero waste to landfill / waste minimization / circular economies.
• Experience or knowledge of waste management facility design, construction, decommissioning and rehabilitation as well as financial provisioning calculations, would be an advantage.
• Experience with integrated waste management plans and development of waste strategies including feasibility investigations.
• Working knowledge of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and other related legislation and their application to projects.
• Basic understanding of circular economies concepts. Experience in circular economy projects an added advantage.
• Willing to work with different teams and willing to learn new skills.
• Highly articulated verbal and written communication skills including report writing and communicating technical concepts.
• Strong work winning, client-facing capability and experience, preferably within the consulting environment.
• Project management skills including financial management of integrated projects.
• People management skills and development and mentoring of junior resources.

We believe that a diverse work force is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa.