General Manager

CLP Circular Services•Normal, IL

15d•$90,000 - $105,000•Onsite

About The Position

Circular Services is hiring a General Manager to lead operations in our Normal, IL, recycling facility. This role is accountable for production, maintenance coordination, material flow, staffing, financial performance, and administrative activities while building a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational discipline. The General Manager leads Operations Managers and supervisors, in both the Single Stream Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and Commercial Recycling plant for recovering paper, plastic and fiber materials. The GM uses operational and financial data to improve productivity, uptime, quality, labor efficiency, and cost per ton.

Requirements

FIVE++ years of experience in recycling, waste management, manufacturing, or similar industry in a plant or operational leadership role.
Strong understanding of inventory management and operational processes.
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and P&L performance, analyze operating data, control costs, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
Proven leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
Strong organizational, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Commitment to environmental sustainability and Circular Services’ mission.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent experience
Bilingual (English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day facility operations to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant processing of materials.
Hiring, onboarding, staffing levels, scheduling, payroll coordination, and vacancy coverage.
Managing facility budgets, operating expenses, P&L, labor costs, downtime costs, and cost per ton.
Drive throughput, maximize recovery rates, and maintain high-quality output across fiber, plastics, and metals.
Collaborates with transportation and logistics department to ensure timely inbound and outbound material movement.
Monitor production data and KPIs to identify trends, improve performance, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Partner with sales and commodities teams to align production with market demand and optimize revenue.
Manage capital projects and operational initiatives from planning through execution.
Maintaining and auditing SOPs, standard work, training, and certification programs.
Champion a safety-first culture with a goal of zero incidents across all operations.
Ensure compliance with all environmental, health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Incident reporting, investigation, follow-up, documentation, and corrective actions with EHS/HR.
Lead safety training programs, audits, and participation in safety committees.
Model safe behaviors and hold all employees accountable to established safety standards.
Oversee maintenance programs to ensure all equipment operates safely and efficiently.
Maintain strong customer and supplier relationships for better understanding and decision making.
Partner with accounting (AP/AR) to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate financial reporting.
Communicate goals, performance expectations, and operational updates clearly across all levels of the organization.
Provide regular reporting (daily, weekly, monthly) to leadership.
Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, transportation, and sales teams.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and performance reviews in coordination with corporate partners.
Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
Build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of leaders and frontline employees.
Promote an environment of respect, transparency, and ethical behavior.
Support employee engagement through training, recognition, and professional development opportunities.
Perform other duties, special projects, and strategic initiatives as assigned to support the evolving needs of the business.