Regional Solid Waste Operations Manager

Career Guide

A Regional Solid Waste Operations Manager oversees day to day collection, transfer, and disposal operations across multiple sites. The role focuses on safe, reliable service delivery, cost control, regulatory compliance, and team performance while improving routes, equipment uptime, and customer experience.

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Key Responsibilities

Lead multi site operations for collection, transfer stations, and disposal facilities
Set regional safety expectations and enforce safe work practices
Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and permit requirements
Manage budgets, labor plans, and operating costs across the region
Oversee fleet readiness, maintenance coordination, and equipment availability
Improve route efficiency and on time service performance
Track service metrics and address recurring service failures
Handle escalations from municipalities, commercial customers, and the public
Hire, coach, and develop site leaders and frontline supervisors
Plan for peak seasons, weather events, and service disruptions
Coordinate vendor performance for maintenance, hauling, and facility services
Support contract renewals and operational requirements for municipal agreements
Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions
Lead continuous improvement projects and standardize best practices
Collaborate with sales and customer service to align expectations and delivery

Top Skills for Success

People Leadership

Safety Management

Operational Planning

Budget Management

Performance Management

Regulatory Compliance

Fleet Management

Vendor Management

Route Optimization

Incident Investigation

Customer Escalation Management

Continuous Improvement

Data Literacy

Contract Management

Change Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Regional Director of Operations

District Manager General Manager Vice President of Operations

Transition Opportunities

Environmental Compliance Manager

Safety Director

Operations Excellence Manager

Fleet Director

Municipal Contract Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Advanced Budget ForecastingLabor SchedulingRegulatory DocumentationRoot Cause AnalysisUnion RelationsExecutive CommunicationCapital PlanningService Level Reporting

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple operating rhythm with weekly scorecards, site reviews, and action tracking. Strengthen financial skills by owning a monthly forecast and learning cost drivers such as labor hours, downtime, and contamination. Partner with compliance and safety teams to practice audit readiness and documentation. Improve communication by writing concise updates that explain results, risks, and next actions.

Market Intelligence Report

Regional Solid Waste Operations Manager is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 85,000 to 110,000

Mid LevelUSD 110,000 to 145,000

Senior LevelUSD 145,000 to 190,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring is supported by ongoing municipal service needs, fleet modernization, safety requirements, and increased focus on recycling and diversion programs.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Waste ManagementRepublic ServicesWaste ConnectionsGFL EnvironmentalCasella Waste SystemsRumpke Waste and RecyclingRecologyClean HarborsStericycleVeolia

Industry Sectors

Solid waste hauling and collectionRecycling operationsTransfer station operationsLandfill operationsMunicipal services contractorsIndustrial and commercial waste services

Recommended Next Steps

Create a 30 60 90 day plan focused on safety, service reliability, and cost drivers

Implement a regional scorecard with a small set of consistent metrics

Standardize daily start up checks and pre route safety briefings

Review top customer complaints and run a fix plan for the top three causes

Audit preventive maintenance adherence and reduce repeat breakdowns

Map key permits and inspection cycles for each site and close documentation gaps

Identify high potential supervisors and set a coaching plan with clear goals

Quantify route changes with before and after results for time, fuel, and missed pickups

Build relationships with municipal contacts and set a proactive communication cadence