Head of Waste Management

🎯 Role | Interim Head of Waste Management

📑 Areas | Operations, Environmental Strategy, Contract Management, Leadership

📍 Based | Essex / Hybrid

💰 Offer | Up to £650 per day (Umbrella)

🕒 Contract | Full-Time, Temporary (6–12 months)

We’re working with a large and complex local authority organisation that is seeking an experienced Interim Head of Waste Management to lead its operational and strategic waste services. Managing one of the largest waste portfolios in the UK, you’ll oversee multi-million-pound contracts, major infrastructure, and a workforce delivering essential public services to hundreds of thousands of residents.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for a hands-on, commercially astute professional with the expertise to drive performance, efficiency, and sustainability within a regulated, high-profile environment.

💥 As Head of Waste Management, you will:

• Lead all operational aspects of the waste disposal service, including 21 recycling centres, transfer stations, and a large logistics fleet
• Manage health, safety, and compliance across all waste operations, ensuring adherence to environmental and legislative standards
• Oversee contracts worth over £1 billion, covering waste treatment, recycling, reuse, and haulage
• Deliver robust financial control across an annual budget of around £90 million, ensuring efficiency and accountability
• Drive innovation and service improvement in support of circular economy and sustainability objectives
• Provide expert leadership to 200+ operational staff, including direct management of a senior team
• Work collaboratively with regional and local stakeholders to ensure high-quality waste disposal and treatment outcomes
• Identify and implement process improvements to maximise environmental benefits and cost effectiveness
• Ensure the safe management and compliance of closed landfill sites while maximising revenue potential
• Contribute to the organisation’s wider environmental and climate strategy through expert operational insight

💥 What we’re looking for:

• Chartered Waste Manager (MCIWM) or equivalent professional qualification
• Proven leadership experience in senior waste management or environmental operations
• In-depth knowledge of waste legislation, environmental compliance, and health & safety governance
• Strong background managing large-scale contracts and multi-million-pound budgets
• Experience overseeing geographically dispersed teams and major capital or infrastructure programmes
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and negotiation skills
• Strategic thinker with a track record of delivering innovation and operational excellence in complex settings

🌱 What’s on offer:

• Up to £650 per day (umbrella)
• Flexible hybrid working, based in Essex
• 6–12 month interim contract, with potential for extension
• Lead one of the UK’s largest and most complex waste management portfolios
• Opportunity to deliver lasting environmental and operational impact