Market-competitive salary + Leadership Autonomy + Long-Term Career Opportunity
Plant Manager - Resource Recovery
Planet Recovery
Laverton North, Melbourne VIC
Competitive Salary + Leadership Autonomy + Long-Term Career Opportunity
Lead Operations.
Drive Performance.
Build a Safer, Smarter Resource Recovery Facility.
Are you an experienced operational leader who knows how to bring together people, plant, safety and performance?
Planet Recovery is seeking an experienced Plant Manager to take ownership of our Laverton North resource recovery operations and lead the site through its next stage of operational improvement and growth.
This is a genuine leadership role with responsibility for the safe, compliant and efficient performance of the facility – from people and plant reliability through to operational throughput, cost control, environmental compliance and continuous improvement.
We are looking for more than someone who can simply keep a site running.
We want a leader who can set standards, build accountability, improve systems, develop people and drive measurable operational performance.
If you are commercially minded, operationally strong and comfortable leading from both the floor and the office, this is an opportunity to make a genuine impact.
About Us
Planet Recovery, operates within Victoria's waste management, recycling and resource recovery sector.
Planet Recovery is a proudly Australian family-owned business that continues to invest in its people, fleet, facilities, equipment and systems to support sustainable long-term growth.
Our resource recovery operations play an important role in maximising material recovery, improving waste diversion and providing reliable processing solutions for our broader operations and customers.
As our business continues to evolve, we are focused on building disciplined, safe and high-performing operations supported by robust leadership, clear systems and genuine accountability.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the executive team, the Plant Manager will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day performance of the Planet Recovery facility at Laverton North.
You will lead the operational team, including supervisors and operators, while ensuring the right people, processes, systems and equipment are in place to deliver safe and efficient outcomes.
This is a highly visible leadership position requiring someone who can move comfortably between strategic planning, operational management and hands-on site leadership.
You will be expected to understand what is happening across the operation, identify where performance is falling short and take ownership of driving improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the secure, efficient and compliant day-to-day operation of the resource recovery facility
Provide clear leadership, direction and accountability across supervisors and operational teams
Drive operational performance across processing, sorting, recovery and material movements
Monitor plant throughput, productivity, equipment utilisation and operational efficiency
Establish transparent performance expectations, priorities and operational standards
Develop supervisors and team members through coaching, training and performance management
Drive a strong culture of safety, accountability, housekeeping and operational discipline
Ensure effective workforce planning,



rostering and allocation of labour and resources
Coordinate inbound and outbound material movements and operational logistics
Oversee plant, machinery and equipment reliability in conjunction with maintenance teams
Minimise equipment downtime through effective maintenance planning and escalation
Identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies and opportunities for continuous improvement
Ensure accurate operational documentation, reporting and record keeping
Monitor operating costs and identify opportunities to improve productivity and cost efficiency
Support budgeting, forecasting and capital expenditure planning
Ensure compliance with environmental, EPA, licensing and waste-handling requirements
Lead and support incident investigations, toolbox meetings, safety initiatives and corrective actions
Maintain productive relationships with customers, contractors, transport providers, service partners and regulatory authorities
Work collaboratively with the broader leadership and operational teams
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role will be measured through tangible operational outcomes, including:
Strong safety performance and reduced incidents
Improved operational discipline and accountability
Reliable plant and equipment performance
Increased productivity and processing throughput
Strong recycling and resource recovery outcomes
Achievement of waste diversion objectives
Effective environmental and regulatory compliance
Improved cost control and operational efficiency
Strong workforce engagement, development and retention
A clean, organised and professionally managed facility
What We Offer
Competitive salary package based on experience
Reliable, full-time senior leadership position
Genuine ownership and accountability for site performance
Direct involvement in operational and continuous improvement initiatives
Opportunity to influence systems, processes and future site development
Support from an experienced senior leadership team
A diverse operational environment with real scope to make an impact
Long-term career opportunity within a growing Australian-owned group
Family-owned business culture where capable leaders are trusted to lead
About You
You are an operational leader who is comfortable taking ownership.
You understand that successful plant management is not achieved from behind a desk—it requires visibility, discipline, strong communication and an ability to understand what is actually happening across the operation.
You know how to hold people accountable while still developing and supporting them.
You are naturally focused on safety, productivity, plant reliability, cost and continuous improvement, and you are comfortable using operational information and KPIs to make decisions.
Most importantly, you do not wait for problems to become crises.
You identify issues early, take ownership and drive them through to resolution.
What We're Looking For
Essential
Proven experience leading an industrial,



processing, manufacturing, waste, recycling, resource recovery or similarly complex operational environment
Demonstrated leadership and people-management capability
Strong understanding of operational performance, productivity and continuous improvement
Experience managing supervisors, operators or multidisciplinary operational teams
Strong safety leadership and commitment to maintaining high workplace standards
Experience managing operational KPIs and driving measurable performance improvement
Sound understanding of plant, machinery and equipment-dependent operations
Strong planning, problem-solving and decision-making capability
Experience managing operating costs, budgets or commercial performance
Ability to manage competing operational priorities in a quick-moving environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Sound computer literacy and ability to manage operational reporting and documentation
Current Australian driver's licence
Full Australian working rights
Highly Regarded
Waste management, recycling or resource recovery industry experience
Transfer station or materials processing facility management experience
Knowledge of Victorian EPA, environmental and waste compliance requirements
Experience managing mobile plant and fixed processing equipment
Understanding of preventative maintenance and asset-management principles
Forklift, loader or relevant mobile plant licences
WHS/OHS qualifications or relevant industry certifications
Degree or Diploma in Operations Management, Engineering, Environmental Management or a related discipline
Safety & Compliance
Safety and environmental responsibility are fundamental to the operation of Planet Recovery.
The successful candidate will be expected to actively lead a strong safety culture and ensure that operational teams:
Follow company safety procedures and safe work practices
Identify and manage workplace hazards and operational risks
Complete required plant and equipment inspections
Participate in toolbox meetings, training and safety initiatives
Report and investigate incidents, hazards and near misses
Maintain compliance with environmental, EPA and waste-handling obligations
Maintain high standards of site housekeeping and operational discipline
The successful applicant must also be willing to undertake pre-employment screening and participate in drug and alcohol testing in accordance with company requirements.
Why Join Planet Recovery?
This is not a caretaker management position.
We are looking for someone who wants the opportunity to lead, improve and build.
You will have the scope to influence how the facility operates, strengthen systems and processes, develop the team and drive improvements across safety, productivity, equipment reliability and commercial performance.
For the right operational leader, this is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a significant business operation while being supported by the broader resources and leadership of Planet Recovery.
If you are an experienced Plant Manager, Operations Manager, Resource Recovery Manager or senior operational leader ready to take the next step, we would like to hear from you.
Planet Recovery - Recovering Resources.
Improving Performance.
Building a More Sustainable Future.
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