General Manager in Leeds

At Panda, we’re continuing to grow and evolve our operations. We are looking for a commercially strong, operationally focused General Manager to lead a multi‑depot operation and help shape the next stage of our business. This senior leadership role has full accountability for operational performance, commercial delivery, compliance, service, and strategic development across multiple sites. You will lead depot teams across trade waste, skip, RoRo and artic operations, driving consistency, performance, growth and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multi‑depot operations across trade waste, skip, RoRo and artic services.
• Take full ownership of depot‑level and combined P&L performance, including revenue growth, cost control and margin improvement.
• Drive operational performance through clear KPIs across service, cost, compliance, safety and customer satisfaction.
• Work closely with sales teams to ensure operational capability supports business growth and contract delivery.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that improve efficiency, utilisation and service delivery.
• Lead the transformation of depots into a more standardised, branded and commercially focused operating model.
• Ensure consistent standards across all sites in relation to safety, compliance, service, presentation and customer experience.
• Provide strong leadership to depot managers and operational teams, setting clear expectations and driving accountability.
• Build high‑performing teams through structured management, coaching, succession planning and continuous development.
• Ensure full compliance with Operator Licence requirements, transport legislation, Working Time Directive and wider regulatory standards.
• Act as, or oversee, Transport Manager responsibilities across relevant licences where required.
• Oversee fleet strategy, asset utilisation and fleet demand planning against operational and budget requirements.
• Identify cost efficiencies and lead continuous improvement activity across the operational cost base.
• Take ownership of major operational issues, escalations and service recovery.
• Lead mobilisation planning for new contracts, ensuring operational readiness and commercial viability.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operational leadership role within transport, logistics, waste management or a similar environment.
• Experience managing multiple sites and leading through depot managers or layered management structures.
• Strong track record of owning and delivering against P&L targets.
• Experience across skip, RoRo, trade waste and artic services would be highly desirable.
• Strong commercial acumen with a focus on growth, margin, cost control and customer service.
• Experience leading operational change, transformation or improvement programmes.
• The ability to align sales and operations to support commercial growth and service delivery.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to develop, challenge and hold management teams accountable.
• Strong knowledge of transport compliance, fleet operations and operational risk.
• Confident decision‑making ability in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High levels of resilience, ownership and accountability.

Essential Requirements

• Transport Manager CPC.
• Willingness to be named on the company Operator’s Licence, if required.
• Waste management, transport or logistics industry experience.
• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Strong knowledge of transport legislation, Working Time Directive and compliance requirements.
• Strong understanding of Health & Safety within a transport, logistics or waste environment.

Desirable

• IOSH or similar Health & Safety qualification.
• First Aid training.
• ADR awareness.
• Experience leading operational standardisation, branding or depot transformation programmes.

Why Join Panda

This is a key leadership opportunity within a growing business where you will have real influence over operational performance, commercial delivery and the future shape of our depot network. For someone who enjoys leading people, improving performance and building scalable operations, this General Manager role offers the chance to make a visible impact across multiple sites.