LRE Commercial Director

South Jersey Industries • Remote - NJ, NJ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Commercial Director will be responsible for optimizing feedstock supply and digestate off-take at a key food waste-to-RNG production facility located in Linden, NJ. This leadership role requires expertise and relationships in the solid waste management network around the New York/New Jersey metro area. The Commercial Director will own and manage relationships with waste suppliers (commercial & municipal) and digestate off-takers. This candidate will develop and establish procurement and risk management strategies to maximize profitability at LRE as it pertains to organics feedstock supply and digestate off-take. The candidate will serve as the point of contact for commercial and municipal bodies, positioning LRE as a critical recycling infrastructure in the region. The successful candidate will join the team during the final stages of construction, supporting the execution of existing feedstock contracts, coordinating with existing feedstock suppliers for commissioning, and ensuring the existing feedstock suppliers are prepared to support LRE as it advances towards commercial operations.

Requirements

• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with commercial and municipal counterparts of all levels and across disciplines.
• Strong strategic thinker and negotiation skills.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills
• Proactive thinking with a detail-oriented and creative problem-solving approach
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Engineering or a related field is required
• 15+ years of waste industry experience in the New York/New Jersey Metro area
• strong network of contacts at both commercial haulers and municipalities
• Experience managing hauling operations or feedstock logistics
• Previous experience in commercial and municipal contracting initiatives from sourcing to evaluation of opportunities, coordinating multidisciplinary bid responses, negotiation, execution, and renewal of agreements.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree a plus
• previous experience with Anaerobic Digesters a plus

Responsibilities

• Manage and co-ordinate day-to-day obligations and responsibilities under the Waste Supply and Digestate Off-take agreements.
• Manage delivery scheduling in-line with operational needs, downtime and market dynamics.
• Manage and cultivate relationships with senior municipal and commercial clients/off-takers, ensuring high‑quality customer engagement and contract performance.
• Ensure effective communication with clients/off-takers to drive site success.
• Create and execute market‑area strategies to optimize asset-value and overall commercial performance.
• Lead the procurement, negotiation and management of fuel supply contracts – which is expected to be a mix of merchant to long-term in nature.
• Evaluate and execute opportunities to de-risk the facility, including moving upstream (e.g., establishing LRE owned de-packaging facilities).
• Ensure effective communication between internal teams, feedstock suppliers and the local community to drive site success.
• Finalize agreement and coordinate the delivery of seed sludge.
• Negotiate and finalize lease agreements with waste suppliers for the de-packaging systems.
• Work with the waste suppliers to manage delivery schedules and expected volume ramp-up during commissioning.
• Work with feedstock suppliers, develop and implement processes/ systems to optimize logistics to the site.
• Partner with Operations Director and facility operator to optimize feedstock quality, delivery times, and digestate output.
• Lead and mentor personnel, focusing on development, performance improvement, and fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Oversee recruitment, training, and workforce development strategies to maintain a highly skilled and motivated team.
• Coordinate with external contractors and third-party partners to ensure smooth operations across all aspects of the site.
• Ensure adherence to a safety-led culture throughout the facility’s operations and processes.
• Set expectations for everyone involved (employees, visitors, and contractors) to adhere to environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Develop and present regular reports on operational performance, challenges, and achievements to senior leadership.
• Lead efforts to identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance plant performance, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

Benefits

• Flexible vacation, Paid Time Off, and Sick Leave package
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• 401(k), with generous company match
• Employee Resource Groups to encourage employee engagement, nurture professional development, and foster an inclusive environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager