At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape the South East region's operational excellence and strategic growth.
- Company: Join Biffa, a leader in waste management transforming how we think about waste.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a diverse, inclusive workplace.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-stakes role with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in complex operations and strong financial acumen.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving lives through innovative waste solutions.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Biffa is seeking an exceptional Regional General Manager to take full strategic ownership of our South East region. Reporting to the Area Business Director, you are the driving force behind multi-site operational excellence. Through people-first leadership, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to service and safety, you shape the region's success story. Your leadership sets the tone for sustained growth, customer satisfaction, and cultural resonance across all sites. In this high-impact role, you will lead from the front—ensuring every operation is safe, compliant, and cost-effective. You will balance diligence with agility, continuously uncovering efficiencies and embedding a performance mindset that delivers bottom-line results. Representing Biffa at a senior level, you build strategic partnerships and forge relationships within local networks. With sharp commercial instincts, you anticipate challenges and identify competitive opportunities—always ready with a game plan that keeps the region one step ahead.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Define and deliver the regional strategy aligned with organisational goals
- Influence the wider business and contribute to national planning conversations
- Set and support strategic growth initiatives (organic and M&A)
- Represent the region in key stakeholder engagements and Town Halls
- Operational Management
- Ensure safe and compliant operations with visible safety leadership
- Deliver P&L accountability and meet budget targets
- Foster operational excellence through simplicity, consistency, and data-driven performance
- Drive efficiencies across disposal, payroll, and asset utilisation
- Drive efficient processes and high recovery rates in Transfer Stations
- People & Culture
- Develop and sustain a high-performance culture through coaching and leadership behaviours
- Lead succession planning and colleague development
- Engage and inspire teams through genuine, accountable leadership
- Champion diversity, inclusion, and collaborative working across sites
- Customer Excellence
- Ensure industry-leading service with a relentless customer-first mindset
- Lead successful mobilization and reduce customer churn
- Ensure strong links with the Customer Services and Credit Control team to ensure that churn is managed in the appropriate way for the region
- Achieve On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) delivery targets
- Commercial Enablement
- Enable growth through commercial partnerships and local market opportunities
- Support capacity expansion and talent development across regional and site teams through partnering with Central support teams
- Collaborate and influence with disposal procurement team to negotiate competitive disposal rates/terms to support the disposal budget
What We’re Looking For
- A proven track record of running large, operationally complex businesses
- Strong financial acumen and experience owning a P&L
- Senior leadership experience across commercial, operational, and people functions
- The ability to build performance cultures that deliver results
- Executive presence with strong stakeholder influence
- Experience driving transformation or business improvement
- Degree-level education (or equivalent experience); Transport CPC advantageous
Biffa - we’re changing the way people think about waste. At Biffa, we love working with waste. Whether we’re turning it into sustainable power, finding new ways to recycle it or simply keeping it off the streets, we believe every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of millions. It’s a view that’s shared by our 11,500+ people around the country, who trust us to provide them with a career that’s always rewarding, often challenging, but never dull. We believe different ideas, perspective and backgrounds are key to developing a creative and effective working environment which is why you’ll find us championing diversity and equality at every turn.
Regional General Manager in Burgess Hill employer: Biffa
Contact Detail:
Biffa Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Regional General Manager in Burgess Hill
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current or former employees at Biffa. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Biffa’s values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate—demonstrate how your experience aligns with our mission of changing the way people think about waste. Tailor your answers to reflect our commitment to service and safety.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! We want to hear about times you’ve driven operational excellence or fostered a high-performance culture. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them impactful.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining the Biffa team and making a difference in the waste management sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Regional General Manager in Burgess Hill
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Regional General Manager. Highlight your experience in operational management and strategic leadership, and don’t forget to showcase your financial acumen and P&L ownership.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for Biffa. Share specific examples of how you've driven transformation or built performance cultures in previous roles.
Showcase Your People Skills: As a people-first leader, we want to see how you engage and inspire teams. Include anecdotes that demonstrate your coaching abilities and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of your journey with Biffa!
How to prepare for a job interview at Biffa
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Regional General Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong financial acumen. Brush up on your P&L management skills and be ready to discuss how you've driven efficiencies and improved bottom-line results in previous roles. Bring specific examples that showcase your ability to manage budgets and deliver on financial targets.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role is all about people-first leadership. Be prepared to share your approach to developing high-performance cultures and how you've engaged and inspired teams in the past. Think of concrete examples where your leadership made a tangible difference in team dynamics or operational success.
✨Strategic Vision is Key
Biffa is looking for someone who can define and deliver regional strategies. Come equipped with insights into the waste management industry and be ready to discuss how you would align the regional strategy with organisational goals. Highlight any experience you have in influencing wider business strategies or contributing to national planning.
✨Build Relationships
As a senior leader, you'll need to forge strategic partnerships and engage with stakeholders. Prepare to talk about your experience in building relationships within local networks and how you've successfully represented your organisation in key engagements. Share examples of how these relationships have led to successful outcomes.