Manager, Waste and Resource Recovery

Personnel Area: Environment Parks and Sustainability

Branch: Waste and Resource Recovery Services

Duration: Contract – 4 years

Our Business

Waste and Resource Recovery Services (WaRRS) is a commercially focused branch within the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Services Group with the core objective of providing an efficient and effective waste management and resource recovery service to Brisbane’s residents and commercial customers that meet waste reduction targets. The Branch has a complex and public profile and manages some of the largest waste management contracts in the Southern Hemisphere which provide more than 43 million bin services per annum to households in the Brisbane Local Government area and processes over 1.2 million customer transactions per annum through its Resource Recovery Centres.

About the Role

The Manager, Resource Recovery leads a strategically critical section of the Branch, with responsibility for delivering commercially competitive, risk‑managed waste management and resource recovery services at significant scale and complexity. Operating at a Senior level, you will balance public interest obligations with strong commercial discipline, ensuring Council’s waste and resource recovery services remain resilient, efficient and future‑focused.

The position is accountable for pricing and revenue strategies, management of major contract governance, asset stewardship and portfolio performance across waste and resource recovery services. It leads engagement with industry, regulators and government to influence policy, secure approvals and partnerships, and protect Council’s interests. The role also builds high‑performing teams, ensures regulatory compliance and service continuity, and delivers improved customer, diversion and sustainability outcomes through innovation and continuous improvement.

This is more than a leadership role, it is a rare opportunity to lead one of Australia’s most significant municipal resource recovery operations, with genuine scale, complexity and impact. The role offers executive autonomy, long‑term infrastructure influence, and the ability to shape Brisbane’s sustainability and circular economy outcomes within a fast‑paced, high‑impact environment.

Key Accountabilities

Reporting to the General Manager, the Manager - Resource Recovery provides both strategic and operational leadership across Council’s resource recovery portfolio, with accountability for:

• Developing and executing pricing, revenue and cost‑management strategies, exercising delegated authority in high-risk environments
• Direct and negotiate complex, high‑value commercial contracts and strategic alliance partnerships
• Manage significant operating and capital financial planning, including budgets, forecasts, business cases, and performance reporting
• Optimising resource recovery services, projects and assets to maximise lifecycle performance, capacity, compliance and social licence
• Ensuring long‑term financial sustainability while balancing public value outcomes
• Proactive risk management across operations, markets and regulatory environments.

What we are looking for

You are a proven executive with a strong track record leading large‑scale, asset‑intensive, commercially complex operations—ideally across waste management, local government or highly regulated public‑sector environments.

You bring:

• Demonstrated strong commercial acumen, including accountability for the profitable operation of enterprise-level services
• Extensive experience managing large operating and capital budgets
• Proven senior-level contracts and procurement expertise, including negotiation, management, and governance of high-value, complex contractual arrangements.
• Strong people leadership and management capability
•  Significant experience leading major operational and capital programs with high-risk and high-complexity profiles
• Deep industry insight with a proven ability to identify, evaluate, and capitalise on value-creating commercial opportunities
• Strong strategic acumen with a track record of influencing organisational and city-wide transformation initiatives
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Management, Commerce or a related discipline or equivalent
• Develop a high-performing team and foster a values-driven culture aligned with Council’s Leadership Blueprint. 

Due to the requirements of this role a criminal history and business checks will be undertaken on preferred applicants. A criminal history does not necessarily preclude an applicant from appointment. 

Please consider the full position description, and tailor your cover letter and resume to outline your suitability. 

How to apply: Click on the 'I’m interested' button to complete your online application. Please upload your tailored resume and covering letter (of no more than one page) demonstrating your suitability to the position.

For more information:  Please call Larissa Robl – Talent Partner on 07 3178 4280

People from diverse backgrounds, including those living with a disability and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who may have questions about the recruitment process or working at Council, are encouraged to reach out to the contact above, who can connect you with a member of Council’s Diversity and Inclusion team.

Closing Date: Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 11:55pm AEST

Brisbane City Council is a multi-award winning accessible and inclusive workplace where our people represent the diverse communities we serve, are supported, and can feel safe. Council has been awarded Employer of the Year at the National Disability Awards and has been recognised multiple times with ‘Gold Employer’ status from the Australian Workplace Equality Index for LGBTI inclusion.