Assistant Director Operations

East Suffolk Services Ltd (ESSL) is a growing environmental services company, wholly owned by East Suffolk Council. Now entering its third year of delivery, ESSL was established to provide high-quality, reliable and value-for-money services to residents across the district.

With around 300 employees, a committed leadership team and a clear public service ethos, ESSL is continuing to evolve as a trusted and resilient delivery partner. Operating from two depots, one in the north and one in the south of the district - ESSL delivers key operational services including waste and recycling, grounds maintenance and fleet management.

Serving over 125,000 homes and managing a combined service budget of approximately £12-13 million, ESSL plays a central role in ensuring that East Suffolk remains clean, green and well-maintained.

About the Role

This is a crucial operational leadership role in a business that is still maturing. Reporting to Operations Director Chris Dowsing, you will lead day-to-day service delivery across waste and recycling (c.£9m), grounds maintenance (c.£3m) and fleet operations. You will be responsible for ensuring performance, compliance, workforce engagement and continuous improvement across all areas.

We need someone who can provide the operational grip required to support the wider strategic ambitions of the company. With a new three-weekly residual waste collection cycle being introduced and a new food waste service being rolled out, there is a significant change agenda ahead and we are looking for someone who is ready to get stuck in.

About You

We are looking for an experienced operational leader, someone with a strong track record in waste and recycling services, and ideally a relevant qualification in the field. You might come from the public or private sector and could be an experienced head of service ready to take a step up, or an existing assistant director seeking a new and hands-on challenge.

What matters most is your ability to lead teams, manage operational risk and deliver consistently high-quality services in a complex and high-profile environment. You will understand what good operational delivery looks like, and have the resilience, presence and judgement to drive performance while building trust and credibility across the workforce.

Experience of managing large teams and multi-million-pound budgets is essential, as is a practical understanding of fleet and grounds maintenance services. Above all, you'll be someone who leads from the front, rolls up their sleeves when needed, and takes real pride in public service delivery.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements.

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your current salary and notice period
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for an interview.

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