Operations Manager

South Derbyshire District Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Operations Manager (Fleet & Waste) to provide senior leadership across one of our most critical frontline services.

Reporting to the Head of Operations, this is a high-profile role with responsibility for the strategic, operational and professional leadership of the Council’s waste collection, fleet and depot services, overseeing a workforce of over 100 frontline staff, significant fleet assets and substantial operational budgets.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of Operational Services at a time of major transformation, modernisation and investment.

The Role

As Operations Manager, you will:

• Act as the Council’s senior operational lead for fleet and waste services, ensuring safe, resilient and fully compliant service delivery.
• Lead service modernisation and continuous improvement programmes, including fleet replacement, decarbonisation, digital systems and service redesign.
• Provide clear operational leadership across high-risk environments, meeting O-Licence, Traffic Commissioner and statutory compliance requirements.
• Translate corporate priorities and committee decisions into robust operational delivery, performance frameworks and measurable outcomes.
• Lead, develop and hold supervisors to account, setting the culture, standards and behaviours across the service.
• Manage operational budgets, fleet investment planning, contracts and asset governance.
• Provide professional advice to senior officers and elected Members on performance, risk and future service options.
• Ensure strong governance for health & safety, business continuity, emergency response and customer service.

About You

You will be a credible and confident senior manager with:

• Substantial leadership experience within waste, fleet, transport or similarly complex operational services.
• Proven experience managing large, unionised operational workforces.
• Strong knowledge of UK waste legislation, transport compliance and O-Licence responsibilities.
• Excellent financial management skills, including budget control and savings delivery.
• The ability to lead complex change and improvement programmes in a demanding operational environment.

Essential / Desirable qualifications and experience include:

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Transport Manager CPC (desirable).
• IOSH or other relevant health & safety qualification (desirable).
• Experience of electric or alternative fuel fleets, digital fleet systems and service transformation (desirable).

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior operational leadership role with real influence over how essential services are delivered to our communities. You will play a key role in shaping the future of waste and fleet services while working within a supportive, ambitious and values-driven organisation.

South Derbyshire District Council is committed to equality, diversity and excellent customer care. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Provisional Interview Date: 11 March 2026

Please be aware that Derbyshire County Council is placing this advert on behalf of this organisation and you should refer directly to its website for details of the terms and conditions attached to this post. Any queries regarding this advert or the recruitment process should be made directly to the organisation.