Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise operations across our Netherlands sites, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company focused on sustainability and operational excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape the future of waste management while driving performance and safety.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior leadership within industrial or processing environments required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and influence at all levels.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and optimize all operational activities across our clients Netherlands sites. This senior leadership role will ensure regulatory compliance, drive efficiency and sustainability, and deliver operational performance aligned with our strategic objectives. Reporting to senior leadership, you will play a pivotal role in stabilising existing operations, embedding best practice, and taking performance to the next level through structure, discipline, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Performance
- Provide overall leadership of day-to-day operations across all Netherlands sites, ensuring safe, stable, and efficient performance.
- Lead, coach, and support Plant Managers and site leadership teams, driving ownership, accountability, and consistency of execution.
- Embed a strong safety culture, compliance mindset, and visible leadership across all locations.
- Operational Excellence
- Drive the reliability and maintenance strategy, ensuring consistent and pragmatic application.
- Stabilise operations and continuously improve performance through structured processes and governance.
- Own and review operational KPIs including safety, availability, throughput, quality, cost, and service.
- Ensure strong focus on asset health and reliability, working closely with maintenance and engineering to minimise downtime and risk.
- Planning, Cost & Coordination
- Oversee resource planning and labour productivity, ensuring the right capabilities are in place.
- Manage operational budgets and cost control, delivering within agreed financial targets.
- Coordinate effectively between operations, maintenance, logistics, engineering, HR, finance, and commercial teams.
- Act as escalation point for operational risks, incidents, and performance issues, ensuring timely resolution.
- Support capital projects and upgrades, ensuring alignment with operational needs and minimal disruption.
- Stakeholder & Group Leadership
- Represent Netherlands operations within group leadership forums, contributing to strategy and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders including municipalities, suppliers, and clients.
- Report operational performance and strategic initiatives to senior management.
Experience & Qualifications
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Logistics, Business Administration, Environmental Science, or related discipline.
- Proven senior leadership experience within industrial, waste, recycling, energy, or processing environments.
- Strong track record managing multi-site or complex operations with accountability for safety, cost, and delivery.
- Hands-on operational background with deep understanding of day-to-day site performance.
- Solid knowledge of reliability, maintenance strategy, and asset health.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget ownership and cost control.
- Experience embedding structure, governance, and performance discipline across teams.
- Strong understanding of regulatory compliance, safety leadership, and operational risk management.
- Passionate about Health & Safety, reliability, and building sustainable long-term performance.
- Results-driven, hands‐on leader with sound judgment and decisive decision-making.
- Pragmatic, structured, disciplined, and accountable.
- Excellent communicator able to influence at all levels — from site teams to senior leadership.
- Calm, credible, and composed under pressure, with a strong operational mindset and bias for action.
Ready to make a real impact across the Netherlands waste management value chain? Apply now by sending a cv to jack@wasterecruit.com or call +441252 353080 quoting reference M9616.
Head of Operations in London employer: WasteRecruit Ltd
Contact Detail:
WasteRecruit Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operations in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Operations role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their challenges and think about how your experience can help them improve. This will show that you're not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven operational excellence and led teams to success. 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 noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and take the initiative to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that align with the Head of Operations role. Highlight your leadership experience and operational excellence to catch our eye!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit for leading operations across our Netherlands sites.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your achievements! Use metrics and examples to demonstrate how you've driven efficiency, safety, and performance in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at WasteRecruit Ltd
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's operations, especially in the Netherlands. Familiarise yourself with their current challenges and successes. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their operational needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how you've successfully led teams in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to drive performance, embed a safety culture, and manage multi-site operations. This will demonstrate your readiness for a senior leadership role.
✨Be Ready to Discuss KPIs
Operational excellence is key for this role, so be prepared to talk about how you've managed and improved KPIs in previous positions. Bring examples of how you've driven efficiency, cost control, and safety metrics, as these will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since stakeholder management is crucial, think of instances where you've successfully collaborated with various teams or external partners. Be ready to share how you maintained strong relationships and resolved conflicts, showcasing your communication skills and strategic mindset.
