Operations Manager in Rainham

The Depot Operations Manager is a senior operational leadership role responsible for the safe, compliant, and profitable day-to-day delivery of the Rainham depot. Safety is the first and overriding priority of the role. The operations manager is accountable for ensuring that all operational planning, scheduling, and service execution is underpinned by robust risk assessment and safe systems of work.

Reporting to the Environmental Services Depot Manager, the role holds responsibility for sales support, quotation development, RAMS preparation, operational planning, resource deployment, service delivery, and financial control, ensuring work is delivered safely, efficiently, profitably, and in line with customer and contractual expectations. This is a hands-on leadership role, requiring strong knowledge of the waste industry, tankering operations, and environmental incident management, with accountability for performance, people, and profitability at depot level.

More about the role:

• Operational Planning & Service Delivery: Lead planning and scheduling of waste, tankering, and environmental services. Allocate labour, fleet, plant, and subcontractors efficiently. Ensure work is delivered safely, on time, and within budget. Monitor KPIs and drive continuous improvement. Develop accurate and commercially robust quotations. Assess job scope, risks, and resource needs. Protect margin through effective costing and planning. Identify cross-sell opportunities and support business growth. Maintain strong customer and stakeholder relationships. Act as operational lead during incidents. Resolve service issues professionally.
• Corporate, Leadership & Strategy: Provide visible, effective leadership to the depot workforce in support of Adler & Allan’s operational, compliance, and commercial objectives. Lead, motivate, develop, and performance-manage teams in line with A&A’s vision, values, and behavioural expectations, fostering a high-performing, compliant, and engaged culture. Champion the One A&A strategy by promoting collaboration, consistency, and shared accountability across depots, divisions, and functions. Maintain strong team morale through hands-on leadership, clear communication, and proactive support of colleagues at all levels. Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of operational strategy, performance targets, and KPIs, ensuring alignment with depot and Group objectives. Provide accurate, timely reporting and insight to the Depot Manager and senior stakeholders to support decision-making and governance. Ensure Group HR policies, procedures, and standards are clearly communicated, understood, and consistently applied. Set clear objectives and performance measures for team members, delivering regular feedback, coaching, and development planning. Provide effective support to the Depot Manager and deputise as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and operational control.
• Operations: Work in close partnership with the Depot Manager to define, implement, and maintain operational delivery standards, ensuring they are consistently achieved. Provide operational leadership to ensure all depot operations and projects are delivered safely, compliantly, on time, and in line with customer and contractual expectations. Continually assess day-to-day operations to ensure high standards of quality, efficiency, and service delivery, promoting a strong customer-focused culture. Provide technical and operational input, including the delivery of presentations and advice to internal teams and customers where required. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across the depot and wider Operations teams. Work with the Depot Manager to optimise operational efficiency, resource utilisation, and cost of delivery, identifying and implementing improvement opportunities. Support organisational change initiatives, including the effective integration of newly acquired businesses, ensuring operational continuity and alignment with Group standards.
• Finance / Profitability: Support the Depot Manager in the management of the depot P&L, ensuring delivery against agreed Group financial targets. Implement Group and Divisional Environmental Services strategies to reduce cost, improve margin, and enhance profitability, working closely with the Depot Manager and Divisional leadership. Partner with Finance and operational teams to monitor service delivery efficiency, cost of delivery, and financial performance, identifying risks and improvement opportunities. Plan, execute, and monitor operational and improvement projects to ensure delivery on time, within scope, and within budget. Drive a culture of cost control, value for money, and quality assurance, ensuring financial discipline is embedded in day-to-day operations. Monitor financial performance using management information and data-driven insight to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement. Lead and support initiatives that deliver sustainable cost savings and profitability improvements without compromising safety, compliance, or service quality.
• Commercial: Develop new business and maximise all opportunities to expand the customer base. Maintain regular contact with existing clients in conjunction with the Sales, Commercial & Marketing teams to ensure maximum repeat business and further service provision. Work closely with group commercial and marketing staff to help identify and implement new products and services to achieve key business objectives. Grow and develop existing and new client relationships. Manage / delegate / develop, all new business leads, and referrals as required. Communicate new product and service opportunities, special developments, information, or feedback gathered through sales force activity to appropriate company staff. Investigate and resolve client concerns and grievances and suggest / implement strategy to avoid reoccurrence of such issues. Nurture excellent internal and external colleague and customer relations throughout the depot & area. Always protect and develop the reputation and name of Adler & Allan. Identify and assess new environmental engineering technologies as candidates for organic investment or acquisition.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure compliance with industry regulations, company policies, and legal requirements. Promote a safe and compliant culture and best practices. Conduct regular safety audits and training sessions for staff. Report any acts, omissions or breaches immediately to supervision and H&S and Group HR.

Qualifications About you:

• Significant experience in waste, environmental incident response services, transport or regulated environments.
• Strong working knowledge of waste legislation and Duty of Care.
• Transport Manager CPC (or willingness to obtain) or a strong working knowledge of road transport compliance and O-Licence obligations.
• Experience supporting EA / DVSA inspections.
• Proven experience leading compliance in complex, live operations.
• Confident communicator able to influence frontline teams and senior leaders.
• High level of commercial awareness and operational judgement.
• Strong IT literacy (MS Office, operational systems, reporting tools).
• An ability to build high performing teams enabled by the application of processes, structure, culture and change.
• Some technical and industry understanding of Confined Space working, Water jetting, Hazmat and Marine Response is desirable.
• Understanding of health and safety at work; possession of IOSH or NEBOSH qualifications would be advantageous.

Adler and Allan are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin. If you require any support with your application, whatever the circumstance, please let us know.