Collections Operations Manager - Surrey

Who We Are

We are a dynamic, growth-oriented and safety-focused company. Our organization has been deemed to be an “essential service” by providing recycling, resource recovery and waste management services that keep our communities clean and safe and valuable materials within the circular economy. We are looking for energetic and driven team members to support our growing company and play a crucial role in achieving our corporate mission and vision. Emterra Group is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers, a certified diverse supplier of the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC), the Canadian Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBE), and WEConnect International.

We are seeking an experienced Collections Operations Manager to lead our Surrey Collections operation. This role is accountable for overall safety, service delivery, people, productivity and financial performance, with a focus on operational excellence, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations: Lead residential (RESI) and industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) collection operations, ensuring safe, reliable and cost-effective service across routes, facilities and disposal sites. Develop contingency plans and resolve operational issues.
• Leadership: Lead, coach and develop Route Supervisors and frontline employees. Manage performance, attendance, training, recruitment and retention, and partner with Human Resources on employee relations, grievances and labour matters in unionized environments.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety, commercial vehicle and transportation regulations, driver requirements, vehicle inspections and Company procedures. Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Customer & Contract Management: Maintain strong relationships with municipalities, commercial customers and contractors. Ensure contractual obligations and service standards are met, resolve escalated concerns and address recurring service issues.
• Operational Improvement: Monitor KPIs, including route completion, missed collections, overtime, labour utilization, fleet availability, productivity and service performance. Optimize routes, improve processes and leverage technology, automation and operational data to drive sustainable results.
• Fleet Management: Partner with Fleet and Maintenance to maximize vehicle availability, minimize downtime, optimize utilization and support equipment replacement and capital planning.
• Financial Management: Maintain full P&L accountability, including annual budgeting, forecasting, cost control and performance against financial targets. Identify productivity, cost-saving and business improvement opportunities and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
• Reporting & Collaboration: Provide accurate operational and financial reporting and collaborate with Safety, Fleet, Maintenance, HR, Finance and Customer Service to achieve business objectives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Progressive leadership experience in waste collection, recycling, transportation, logistics or another fleet-based operation, with direct RESI and ICI collection experience strongly preferred.
• Experience managing multiple disposal sites, operating environments, locations or lines of business.
• Demonstrated success leading large operational teams, including supervisors and frontline employees; unionized experience strongly preferred.
• Proven full P&L, budgeting, forecasting and cost-management experience.
• Experience managing municipal relationships, customer contracts and service commitments.
• Strong understanding of route optimization, fleet utilization, labour productivity, safety and commercial vehicle compliance.
• Strategic planning, problem-solving and data-driven decision-making capabilities, with the ability to apply technology and automation to operational challenges.
• Experience with fleet-management, route-management, telematics or reporting systems is an asset.
• Post-secondary education in business, operations, transportation or a related discipline is preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Valid BC driver’s licence required. Class 1 licence, or ability to obtain one, is an asset.
• Strong communication, leadership and relationship-management skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office.

What Success Looks Like

• Safe operations and consistent regulatory compliance.
• Reliable collection services and strong municipal and customer relationships.
• Accountable supervisors and effective workforce management.
• Efficient fleet and labour utilization.
• Achievement of operational, service and financial targets.
• Sustainable improvements through effective processes, technology and automation.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $85,000–$98,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications.

• Annual performance incentive of up to 10%.
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance.
• Paid vacation.
• Extended health, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage.
• Long-term disability, life insurance and company-paid Employee Assistance Program.
• Tuition reimbursement, professional development and employee discount programs.

Reasons to Apply, Stay and Grow with Emterra Group

• Opportunity to be part of one of Canada’s Greenest Employers!
• Competitive wages and annual wage increases!
• Comprehensive health benefits (drug, dental, vision, LTD, life insurance)!
• Employee Assistance Program, paid for by the Company!
• Tuition reimbursement program and professional development support!
• Employee discount programs!
• Be part of an organization that wants to learn and grow!
• Ability to have impact and make change!

Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership career by joining one of Canada’s Greenest Employers and becoming part of the environmental solution? If so, apply now! We appreciate all applicants who apply; however, only those who are qualified will be contacted.

Emterra Group is committed to maintaining an equitable, fair, and diverse environment. Any applicants who have a disability or require reasonable accommodation may speak directly with our Human Resources Department. Reasonable accommodations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status

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