AREA MANAGER, RECYCLING OPERATIONS, ONTARIO – #5903

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. is seeking an AREA MANAGER, RECYCLING OPERATIONS, based out of Ontario.

The Opportunity

A leading environmental services organization is seeking an Area Manager, Recycling Operations to oversee five Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across Canada. Based in Ontario, this leader will have responsibility for multi-site operational performance, financial results, safety, people leadership, capital planning, and continuous improvement across the recycling business.

This is a highly visible leadership role for someone who wants to be deeply involved in the business—working directly with site teams while influencing broader operational and commercial strategy.

Industry: Renewables & Environment
Location: Ontario, Canada
Compensation: $170,000–$215,000 base salary, plus bonus

Travel: 50–70% across Canada
Employment Type: Full-Time
Seniority Level: Director / Senior Operations Leadership

Relocation Assistance: Available

Who Will Succeed

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, people-oriented multi-site operations leader, ideally with an engineering or technical background and experience managing complex industrial, manufacturing, recycling, or processing environments.

You combine strong financial and operational discipline with the ability to connect with people at every level of an organization. You enjoy being visible in the field, developing leaders, solving problems, and taking ownership of business results. You are comfortable traveling extensively between facilities and balancing strategic leadership with direct involvement in operations.

French-English bilingual capability is an asset but not required.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This role offers the opportunity to lead a significant Canadian recycling operation while having meaningful influence over how the business performs and grows. You will oversee five MRFs across Canada, lead and develop operational teams, and directly impact safety, productivity, profitability, asset utilization, capital investment, and commercial performance.

You will have the autonomy to make consequential operational decisions while partnering with engineering, commodity sales, business development, and other functional teams. For a leader who enjoys being close to the operation and wants broad business ownership, this is an opportunity to make a visible impact.

What You’ll Do

Lead Multi-Site Recycling Operations

Oversee the productivity, financial performance, safety, and overall effectiveness of multiple recycling operating units across Canada.

Assist in developing and implementing area recycling operating plans aligned with established long-term business objectives.

Continuously review operational performance, establish appropriate performance measures, and ensure operating units meet or exceed annual objectives.

Regularly visit facilities to evaluate operating conditions, monitor performance, engage with site leadership and frontline teams, and identify opportunities for improvement.

Ensure facilities have the resources required to operate safely, efficiently, and effectively.

Drive Financial & Operational Performance

Lead regularly scheduled Profit & Loss (P&L) reviews and execute action plans designed to improve facility and equipment utilization, maintenance performance, labor efficiency, and material costs.

Conduct regular Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) reviews to help facilities maintain or improve gross-margin performance as commodity and operating costs fluctuate.

Support the development of operating-unit budgets, including forecasting future financial, operational, and workforce requirements.

Partner with managers to optimize budgets, maintain financial discipline, and address performance variances.

Establish clear operating expectations and work with site leaders to modify plans or implement contingency measures when performance falls short of objectives.

Build High-Performing Teams

Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to managers across the recycling network.

Create a culture centered on safety, accountability, collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement.

Oversee workforce requirements across the area, including employee selection, coaching, training, development, and performance management.

Provide input into compensation, promotion, and termination decisions as appropriate.

Develop leaders who can independently drive strong operational and business results at the facility level.

Champion Safety & Compliance

Implement and maintain programs designed to continuously improve safety, productivity, and profitability across recycling operations.

Ensure compliance with applicable occupational health and safety, transportation, environmental, and other federal, provincial, and local regulations.

Conduct regular site safety reviews with plant managers and supervisors and reinforce consistent operating and safety standards across facilities.

Partner Across the Business

Work closely with the commodity sales team to ensure recycled materials meet mill specifications and are effectively marketed to maximize value.

Partner with sales and business development teams to evaluate RFPs, bids, and other growth opportunities.

Facilitate and coordinate capital planning for the recycling business, partnering with engineering and other technical resources as required.

Support strategic growth initiatives, operational innovation, and long-term business planning.

Participate in relevant industry associations and monitor regulatory and policy developments that may affect recycling operations.

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Engineering, or a related field; or
• High School Diploma/GED with at least four years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated management and leadership experience.
• Experience leading operational teams in a multi-site or similarly complex environment.
• Strong understanding of operational and financial performance management.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively across Canada.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineering or technical operations background.
• Significant experience in recycling, manufacturing, industrial processing, environmental services, or another asset-intensive operating environment.
• Experience overseeing multiple facilities or geographically dispersed operations.
• Strong P&L, budgeting, COGS, and operational performance-management experience.
• Approximately 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven ability to coach, develop, and hold operational leaders accountable.
• Comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on within the business.
• French-English bilingual capability is an asset.

Leadership Profile

We are looking for a leader who is highly engaged in the business and comfortable spending significant time in operating facilities.

You are someone who:

• Builds credibility with frontline employees and senior leaders alike.
• Enjoys being visible, accessible, and involved in operations.
• Takes ownership of results and follows through on commitments.
• Understands the relationship between operational decisions and financial performance.
• Develops people rather than simply managing performance.
• Can move comfortably between plant-floor issues and broader business strategy.
• Uses data and financial insight to identify opportunities and make decisions.
• Thrives in a geographically dispersed, fast-moving operating environment.

Work Environment & Travel

This position operates across a combination of office, recycling plant, and field environments.

The successful candidate will be based in Ontario and oversee five Material Recovery Facilities across Canada, requiring approximately 50–70% travel to operating locations.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected base salary range is CAD $170,000–$215,000, with flexibility depending on relevant experience, education, training, qualifications, and work location.

The position offers a comprehensive total rewards package that may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and short-term disability coverage.
• Retirement savings support and employer matching.
• Employee share ownership opportunities.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.
• Leadership development and career-growth opportunities.
• Potential relocation assistance for an ideal candidate.

Qualified and interested applicants are encouraged to apply today in confidence by sending your resume as a MS Document to us at:  info@indemand.ca.

ONLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED

Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use

IN DEMAND Recruitment & Consulting Inc. may use artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled tools to support certain aspects of our recruitment process, including the screening and assessment of applications. These tools are used to assist with organizing, reviewing, and evaluating candidate information and do not replace human judgment or decision-making.