Description

About the role

Join us for an exceptional opportunity to bring your proven operations, contract and commercial management abilities to lead and engage teams to deliver essential and cost-effective services for our community.

As the second largest local government in Australia servicing the sixth largest city in in the nation, City of Gold Coast is committed to being a leader in waste reduction, recycling and circular economy initiatives.

The City owns an extensive portfolio of waste and resource recovery assets including two landfills, 11 Waste and Recycling Centres and operates a fleet of approximately 550,000 bins to service our customers. The City continues to plan and deliver innovative waste and resource recovery infrastructure and service initiatives, including the Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC) project which aims to significantly increase resource recovery rates, divert up to 98% of waste from landfill and generate renewable energy.

Our Operation’s Manager is a pivotable senior role in the City’s Waste and Resource Recovery business. The Manager is responsible for managing and partnering with the City’s operations contractors including our Resource Recovery Services contractor who operates the City’s two landfills and largest WRCs, and provides associated logistics, commodity management and related services. The Manager also leads and manages a team of approximately 65 responsible for operation of City-operated waste and resource recovery facilities including Waste and Recycling Centres (WRCs) and closed landfills, and associated operations.

A key member of the Waste and Resource Recovery leadership team, the Manager collaborates closely with waste infrastructure and services planning, waste collections, safety, environmental, finance and contractor colleagues to ensure safe, reliable, commercially effective, customer-focused and environmentally sound operations and infrastructure that delivers for the Gold Coast both now and into the future.

This is a contract for up to 4 years. 

We’re looking for people who have: 

• Extensive senior-level experience managing high value complex service contracts (not necessarily waste management-related).Demonstrated ability to plan, negotiate and execute contract and operations solutions to facilitate successful
• operational, contract and commercial outcomes
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal, negotiation, oral and written communication skills, inclusive of a highly collaborative work style to work closely with contract partners and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership skills to manage a multidisciplinary team of field and professional staff, with the ability to clearly and influentially articulate a vision and encourage, support and mentor others
• Demonstrated ability to develop innovative solutions and strategies that improve management outcomes and resolve challenges in a complex environment.
• Bachelor Degree of Business / Engineering /Environment Management / Environmental Health or equivalent knowledge.
• Ability to rapidly develop comprehensive knowledge of statutory requirements, policies, procedures relevant to the business and role.

The Gold Coast is inspired by lifestyle and driven by opportunity. We are the second largest Council in Australia.  

We care about being the most flexible government organisation in Australia. We have a range of benefits to help you create the right balance:   

• Coaching and advice to develop your leadership competencies
• Mental Health training
• Study allowance provisions  
• 4 free confidential counselling sessions a year for you or an immediate family member
• Salary sacrifice provisions including vehicles on novated lease and superannuation 

We pride ourselves on our shared mission of being a high-performing, customer-focused organisation which delivers value-for-money services to the community.  

How to apply

To submit your application, please click apply now and complete the application form.  You will be required to upload your resume and a cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining how your skills, experience and personal attributes will enable you to be successful in this role.

To complete your application, please also upload a 2-miniute video recording of yourself explaining to us your recent experience and capabilities in managing the operational, commercial and contract management aspects of complex service contracts (not necessarily waste management-related).  

Click the apply button to be directed to the City of Gold Coast career portal. 

Contact Person  Jansen Croft or Chris Owen 

Contact Email    JCROFT@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or cowen@goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Closing Date      Thursday 26 March 2026 @ 11:59 pm 

Our selection process may include a one-way video interview via Criteria, a face-to-face or virtual interview via Microsoft Teams, reference checks via Xref and additional checks including police checks, employment history checks, qualification checks, pre-employment medical reviews and drug and alcohol testing.  

We’re committed to creating a diverse workplace and inclusive culture. We take pride in people who align with our high-performance principles. We believe that the diverse makeup of our workforce reflects the community we serve. We consider all qualified candidates for employment, irrespective of race, age, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics by law.