Description
We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead our PET recycling facility in Seaham. As part of the Biffa Group, EsterPET is dedicated to producing high-quality recycled PET materials that support a more sustainable circular economy.
The successful candidate will have significant operational and financial responsibility within a recycling, plastics, polymer processing or closely related manufacturing business. The General Manager will lead the site management team and take ownership for delivering the agreed business plan, operating budget and performance targets.
Key responsibilities include:
- Taking full responsibility for the safe, compliant and profitable operation of the site
- Leading, coaching and developing the site management team
- Understanding and actively managing key drivers of site profitability
- Driving performance across the full PET recycling process
- Ensuring effective control of process performance and product quality
- Establishing and managing clear KPIs covering H&S, throughput, yield, mass balance, recovery, plant availability, downtime, quality, energy, conversion cost and financial performance
- Leading site-wide continuous improvement activities
- Ensuring appropriate maintenance, asset reliability and capital investment plans are in place
- Maintaining compliance with the site's Environmental Permit and relevant waste, packaging and recycling legislation
- Working closely with Commercial, Procurement, Finance, Engineering and Quality teams
- Providing clear, accurate and timely reporting to the Board and senior leadership team
Essential skills and experience include:
- Significant senior management experience within PET recycling, plastics recycling, polymer processing or a closely related manufacturing environment
- Proven P&L responsibility, including budgeting, forecasting and delivery of financial and operational targets
- Strong understanding of PET recycling, including feedstock/bale quality, sorting and washing, flake production and the conversion of flake into pellet
- Strong commercial understanding of the relationship between feedstock cost, PRN value, yield, throughput, quality and profitability
- Proven ability to lead and develop management teams and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
- Experience improving safety, quality, yield, throughput, reliability and operating cost within a complex manufacturing operation
- Good understanding of the regulatory environment affecting recycling and waste-processing operations
- Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Experience reporting operational and financial performance to Boards or senior executive teams
- Strong communicator with the confidence to raise concerns, challenge performance and take responsibility for site decisions
Benefits include a competitive salary dependent on experience, company pension, free on-site parking, and training and professional development opportunities.