General Manager

We are looking for an experienced General Manager to lead a complex, multi-depot operation covering trade waste, skip, RoRo and artic services.

This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for operational performance, commercial delivery, safety, compliance and the individual and combined P&Ls of the depots.

`The General Manager will lead the continued transformation of the operation, creating a more consistent, efficient and commercially focused model while maintaining high standards of customer service.

As General Manager, you will:

• Lead multi-site operations across trade waste, skip, RoRo and artic services
• Take full ownership of depot-level and combined P&Ls, including revenue growth, cost control and margin improvement
• Develop operational strategies that improve productivity, fleet utilisation and service delivery
• Work closely with Sales to ensure operational capability supports sustainable commercial growth
• Lead the standardisation and transformation of depots into a consistent, modern and commercially focused operating model
• Maintain high standards of health and safety, transport compliance, waste compliance, customer service and site presentation
• Lead, develop and hold depot managers and operational teams accountable for performance
• Build succession plans and develop a strong pipeline of operational leadership talent
• Ensure compliance with Operator Licence requirements, transport legislation, Working Time Directive requirements and other regulatory standards
• Act as, or oversee, the named Transport Manager across relevant Operator Licences
• Manage fleet strategy, asset utilisation and demand planning against agreed budgets
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency and strengthen operational performance
• Deliver against KPIs covering safety, service, cost, compliance and customer satisfaction
• Take ownership of significant operational issues, escalations and service recovery
• Work closely with Sales, Finance, Compliance and Maintenance teams
• Lead the planning and mobilisation of new contracts, ensuring operational readiness and commercial viability
• Support the continued rollout of the Panda operating model across the region

The successful General Manager will have:

• Significant senior operational leadership experience within transport, logistics or waste management
• Experience managing multiple depots through layered management structures
• A strong track record of managing P&Ls and improving revenue, margin and operational costs
• Experience leading operational transformation and embedding new ways of working
• Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of the relationship between sales and operational delivery
• Proven experience developing managers, improving accountability and building high-performing teams
• The ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced and operationally demanding environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Experience delivering significant operational-efficiency and continuous-improvement initiatives
• A high level of resilience, ownership and personal accountability
• Experience across trade waste, skip, RoRo and artic operations would be highly advantageous

• Willingness to be named on the company’s Operator Licence where required
• Waste-management or transport-industry experience
• Full UK driving licence
• Strong knowledge of transport legislation, the Working Time Directive and Operator Licence compliance
• Strong understanding of health and safety within a transport or waste-management environment

IOSH, First Aid or ADR-awareness qualifications would be beneficial but are not essential.

We’re in the business of waste management but that doesn’t just mean collecting bins. Behind every collection is a passionate team of people finding smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste.

Over the past 30 years, Panda has grown into a leading resource recovery business, bringing together almost 3,000 people across multiple brands, united by a shared vision and strong values.

While our operations are…