Central Highlands Regional Council | Emerald, QLD | Executive Leadership | $255 – 266k TRP
Public Sector People are proud to partner with Central Highlands Regional Council to recruit a Manager Resource Recovery—a pivotal leadership role responsible for delivering one of regional Queensland's largest and most important resource recovery operations.
Reporting directly to the Director Communities, this position provides strategic and operational leadership across Council's landfills, resource recovery centres, kerbside collection contracts and future waste initiatives. It is a rare opportunity to influence the future of resource recovery while leading a high-performing business that services one of Queensland's largest regional local government areas.
The Role
This is far more than a traditional waste management position.
You will lead a mature and well-performing operational business while delivering several significant strategic initiatives over the coming years, including:
- Procurement and mobilisation of Council's next kerbside collection contract
- Long-term landfill planning and future waste infrastructure
- Resource Recovery Strategy implementation
- Queensland Waste Strategy initiatives including education and waste diversion
- Continuous improvement across operations, customer service and environmental outcomes.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the operation of 12 Resource Recovery Centres and 3 landfills
- Managing Council's kerbside collection contract and future procurement activities
- Driving resource recovery, waste diversion and landfill optimisation initiatives
- Managing significant operational and capital budgets
- Leading contract management, procurement and major projects
- Developing future strategy, policy and business improvement initiatives
- Building strong relationships with industry, government, regulators and the community
- Leading and developing multidisciplinary operational teams while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and customer service excellence.
This is a highly visible leadership role that will directly influence the future direction of waste and resource recovery services across the Central Highlands region.
About You
You are an experienced operational leader with extensive experience across waste management, resource recovery, landfill operations or a similarly complex operational environment.
You will bring:
- Significant leadership experience within waste, environmental services or resource recovery
- Strong technical knowledge of landfill operations, environmental compliance and resource recovery
- Demonstrated contract management and procurement experience
- Experience delivering major operational and capital projects
- Strong commercial and financial management capability
- Strategic thinking combined with practical operational leadership
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- The ability to lead organisational change while maintaining high service standards
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Waste, Resource Recovery or a related discipline.
While local government experience will be highly regarded, Council is equally interested in speaking with outstanding leaders from private sector waste and environmental service providers who can bring technical expertise and fresh thinking to the organisation.
Why Join Central Highlands Regional Council?
This opportunity offers:
- Executive leadership responsibility across a critical community service
- The opportunity to shape the future of resource recovery across regional Queensland
- Responsibility for major procurement, landfill planning and strategic infrastructure projects
- A well-established, high-performing operational team with an excellent reputation for customer service
- The chance to influence future State waste initiatives while delivering practical local outcomes
- A collaborative Executive Leadership environment with genuine support for innovation and continuous improvement.
With significant investment planned over the coming years, this is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced leader looking to leave a lasting legacy in one of Queensland's largest regional councils.
Be part if something that matters, with like-mined people who truly care.
One Place. Many Paths. Choose Yours Here.
Apply Now
To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter via the ‘Apply Now’ button or contact:
Adrian Holder
Lead Search & Select Consultant
Public Sector People
E: adrian@publicsectorpeople.com.au
Applications close: Wednesday 26 August 2026.
