Site Manager (Waste Industry) in Widnes

The Site Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of Panda's processing facility. This includes ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant delivery of all plant operations — from material processing and transport, to maintenance, compliance, and people leadership. This role is also accountable for aligning site performance with the company's recycling strategy, sustainability commitments, and commercial targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a proactive safety-first culture across the site, ensuring zero-harm principles are embedded.
• Ensure full compliance with H&S legislation, EA permits, environmental regulations, and internal policies.
• Oversee health & safety of all personnel and third-party visitors.
• Deliver safety briefings, toolbox talks, and participate in the SHEQ working group.
• Ensure all Safe Systems of Work and Risk Assessments are in place, understood, and followed.
• Coach and guide the team on accident reporting, investigations, and continuous safety improvement.
• Oversee all material processing, recovery, transport, and final disposal activities.
• Maximise plant availability, throughput, and output quality within compliance and cost constraints.
• Lead site planning and review meetings to align daily activity with strategic KPIs.
• Ensure preventative maintenance of all fixed and mobile plant, working closely with engineering.
• Liaise with logistics to ensure timely movement of material in accordance with offtake agreements and permits.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and productivity optimisation across the site.
• Recruit, induct, and develop site personnel to build a high-performing, safety-conscious team.
• Ensure sufficient staffing levels across all shifts.
• Deliver regular training, coaching, competency assessments, and performance reviews.
• Set clear objectives and maintain a culture of accountability, engagement, and development.
• Approve payroll submissions and ensure compliance with workforce planning processes.
• Control site operational budgets, costs, and resource utilisation.
• Contribute to financial forecasting and reporting.
• Balance site efficiency with quality, compliance, and profitability objectives.
• Support the implementation of commercial agreements by ensuring operational capability aligns with contractual outputs.

Strategic Execution & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Support delivery of site and regional strategic plans, including sustainability and digitalisation goals.
• Work closely with other Site Managers, Engineering, Compliance, SHEQ, and Commercial teams.
• Maintain strong relationships with regulators, partners, and key external stakeholders.
• Represent the site at regional processing and planning meetings.

Key Accountabilities

• Operational compliance with legislation, permits, and company policies.
• Leadership of a safe, engaged, and capable on-site team.
• Delivery of site KPIs including throughput, quality, and cost efficiency.
• Maintenance of a compliant and well-maintained plant.
• Contribution to strategic and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Zero-harm and compliance with HS&E standards.
• Site production and output targets.
• Labour cost efficiency and utilisation.
• Audit outcomes (internal, external, EA).
• Operational uptime and asset reliability.
• Team development, retention, and engagement metrics.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience in operational leadership in a processing, recycling, or manufacturing facility.
• Strong track record in managing safety, compliance, and plant performance.
• Experience leading teams in high-risk environments.
• Strong understanding of waste/recycling operations and environmental regulation.
• Financial and budget management experience.
• Effective communicator with strong planning and decision-making ability.
• Experience in site permit management and working with the Environment Agency.
• WAMITAB Certificate of Technical Competence (COTC) – with up-to-date continued competency.
• Knowledge of ERP or operational data systems (e.g. Power BI, CMMS).
• Exposure to continuous improvement or Lean methodologies.
• Degree in Operations, Engineering, Environmental Science, or related discipline.

Personal Qualities

• Confident, pragmatic leader with strong coaching and mentoring ability.
• Resilient under pressure and solutions-focused.
• Collaborative mindset and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly organised, commercially aware, and detail-oriented.
• Passionate about sustainability, safety, and operational excellence.

We are Panda. We value waste. 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 diverse, our purpose is clear: to protect our people, support our customers, and create positive impact for the communities and environments we serve.

At Panda, people are at the heart of everything we do. We work as one team, combining different skills, experiences, and perspectives to achieve shared goals. We care for each other’s wellbeing, encourage development, and support growth because we know we’re stronger together.

We expect excellence in how we operate. High standards, bold thinking, and continuous improvement drive our passion for innovation. We challenge the ordinary, put safety first, and embrace new ideas while delivering practical, cost-effective solutions that move our business forward.

We own what we do. From day-to-day tasks to major projects, we take pride in our work and responsibility for the outcome. We don’t walk past problems; we address them together. Our expertise, reliability, and care reflect who we are and the difference we make.

And above all, we act with trust and integrity. Trust is built through open communication, honesty, and accountability. It allows us to move quickly, make confident decisions, and deliver results — knowing our people are empowered to do the right thing.

Our journey depends on talented, committed people who want to make an impact. Take the first step and join us on the journey.

Panda is committed to attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate and the people we serve.