At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a high-performing team in waste management operations.
- Company: Join Biffa, a leader in sustainable waste solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, generous pension, and discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability and employee engagement.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering, Management or Finance; PFI contract experience preferred.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and diversity.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity to join us as a General Manager.
Location: West Sussex
Working Days: Monday to Friday - hours per week (or hours to suit the business)
A quick look at the role:
The General Manager will lead and develop the safe, efficient and profitable operation of a long term PFI contract, overseeing a diverse and high-performing service that includes a number of Transfer Stations and Household Waste Recycling Centres, a Materials Recycling Facility and a Transport Team, with a total workforce of approximately 220 employees. The successful candidate will focus on maximising productivity, continuously improving health and safety standards, and driving employee engagement, plant performance and increased recycling and diversion from landfill.
Your core responsibilities:
- To establish and maintain a strong health, safety and wellbeing culture that delivers continuous improvement. Set achievable targets and monitor progress including the implementation of all company policies and standards.
- To create, and implement an annual budget and fiscal plan, along with an agreed set of deliverables and objectives for the contract. Monitor and control business unit performance against budget and financial targets and implement tight cost control and identify synergy savings as part of margin improvement.
- Improve the culture for Environmental Awareness in all aspects of site operations. Monitor compliance and develop achievable targets for improvement including communication of these effectively to the team.
- To lead, develop, motivate, and maintain an effective management team and ensuring a positive, inclusive work environment. To create a culture of support for operations, maintenance, projects, technical and administration that drives the achievement of business targets and plans.
- Building an environment for people development and ensuring that such development is appropriately supported and facilitated to demonstrate clear opportunities for succession.
- To lead, drive and improve employee engagement and morale in line within the business requirements and employee survey feedback.
- To develop and implement new technologies, processes, and business types in order to enhance contract performance, reduce costs and improve safety standards.
- To develop strong relationships with the client and associated regional authorities to ensure collaboration, effective change management and compliant operations.
- Lead specific strategic groups as required and carry out any other such reasonable job-related tasks as the company may require you to undertake from time to time.
Essential requirements for the General Manager role:
- Degree in Engineering, Scientific or Management / Finance discipline.
- Experience managing a PFI contract or similar, preferably within a local authority setting.
- Management of capital and operational budgets.
- Extensive industry experience in technical and operational management roles.
- Understand relevant industry, transport and health & safety legislation.
And Here’s why you’ll love it at Biffa:
- Competitive salary.
- Employee life cover.
- Ongoing career development, training and coaching – because if you don’t grow, we don’t grow.
- Generous pension scheme.
- Retail and leisure discounts.
- Holiday and travel discounts.
- Bike to work scheme.
Interview Date: Monday 26th January 2026.
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 11,000+ 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.
General Manager in Horsham employer: Biffa
Contact Detail:
Biffa Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager in Horsham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or family to get comfortable with common questions. This will help you articulate your experience and skills confidently when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team at Biffa.
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager in Horsham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the General Manager role. Highlight your experience with PFI contracts and any relevant management roles. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about waste management and how you can contribute to our mission at Biffa. Let us know what makes you the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a General Manager, leadership is key. In your application, share examples of how you've led teams, improved employee engagement, or driven operational success. We love to see those stories!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Biffa
✨Know Your Numbers
As a General Manager, you'll need to be on top of budgets and financial targets. Brush up on your financial acumen and be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets in the past. Bring specific examples of cost control measures you've implemented and how they improved performance.
✨Safety First
Health and safety is a big deal in this role. Familiarise yourself with relevant legislation and be prepared to talk about how you've fostered a strong safety culture in previous positions. Share any initiatives you've led that improved safety standards and employee wellbeing.
✨Engage and Motivate
Employee engagement is key for this position. Think about strategies you've used to boost morale and create an inclusive work environment. Be ready to share how you’ve developed teams and supported succession planning in your past roles.
✨Build Relationships
Strong relationships with clients and authorities are crucial. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with stakeholders in the past. Highlight any experiences where you managed change effectively or navigated complex operational challenges.