Area Manager

Smart Environmenta l is looking for an experienced and energetic leader with commercial nous to lead our West Coast (South Island) municipal and commercial businesses.

About Smart

Smart Environmental Limited works on behalf of local councils, businesses, and communities across New Zealand. Recently acquired by Blue Planet, our mission is to divert waste from landfill. With a large fleet of collection vehicles and line haul operations, we are committed to driving sustainability for the communities and businesses we serve.

We proudly work for the Buller, Grey, and Westland District Councils, delivering their solid waste and recycling services. These include operating collections, refuse transfer stations, landfill services, and two Material Recovery Facilities that process and sell recycled material collected from the region.

Smart also has commercial services in the region that are poised for growth with the right leader.

About the Role

The Area Manager role, based on the West Coast, offers an exciting opportunity to drive business growth, lead operations, and build strong relationships across the region. Experience in business development, leadership, and operations, particularly within the waste industry, would be advantageous. However, we are ultimately seeking a motivated individual with a positive attitude, strong transferable skills, and a passion for achieving results.

This role requires regular travel throughout the West Coast region, primarily across Buller, Hokitika, and Greymouth. Ideally, you'll be based in or near Greymouth, giving you the opportunity to be centrally positioned within the region and play a key role in shaping the future success of our West Coast operations. If you're passionate about leadership, building relationships, and driving results, we'd love to hear from you.

Comprehensive training will be provided to the successful candidate, including time spent at other branches to gain a thorough understanding of our operations and set you up for success in the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining our council contract portfolio
• Leading a great team to deliver reliable, safe, and customer-focused services
• Managing a fleet of over 15 trucks and a team of more than 30 staff, with a strong focus on health and safety
• Growing our commercial waste and recycling businesses in the region

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in driving business growth and managing operations
• Strong ability to work under pressure while maintaining efficiency and focus
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work both independently and collaboratively
• Experience in waste management, logistics, or commercial services (preferred but not required)

The applicant must be a New Zealand Citizen or Resident.

Applications are open until 23 September 2026, but don’t wait! We’re reviewing applications as they come in, so apply today!