DRS Director

VACANCY (REF.HIS3461)

DRS Director

Environmental Services

CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent

HOURS OF WORK: 40 hours, Monday to Friday

SALARY: Competitive executive-level salary with attractive benefits package

BENEFITS: Company vehicle, pension, life assurance, cycle to work scheme, EAP scheme

CLOSING DATE: 20th November 2026

A vacancy has arisen for a DRS Director to join our team within our Waste Management Services contract within Hargreaves Industrial Services.

The DRS Director provides strategic and operational leadership for Hargreaves’ delivery of Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme, with accountability for the end‑to‑end logistics, fleet performance, compliance, and service delivery across all of Scotland. The role exists to ensure the scheme operates efficiently, safely, and reliably, meeting statutory obligations and performance targets set by the Scheme Administrator (Exchange of Change).

This position leads the operational execution of the DRS collection model, overseeing a fleet of 15–50 RCVs, hooks and vans along with associated support teams. The Director ensures that vehicle utilisation, routing, container recovery, container delivery and material flows are optimised to deliver a high‑performing, cost‑effective, and compliant service that supports Scotland’s circular‑economy objectives.

The role briefly encompasses the following duties: -

• Lead the full operational delivery of the DRS logistics model across Scotland, ensuring reliable collection of in‑scope containers from return points and consolidation hubs.
• Achieve scheme KPIs including collection frequency, container recovery rates, contamination thresholds, and service‑level compliance.
• Ensure efficient routing, catchment optimisation, and fleet utilisation across 15–50 RCVs.
• Oversee the operational performance of the RCV fleet, ensuring high availability, minimal downtime, and optimal maintenance scheduling.
• Drive improvements in fuel efficiency, telematics usage, driver behaviour, and asset lifecycle management.
• Ensure fleet specification aligns with DRS operational needs (payload, lift systems, compartmentalisation, safety systems).
• Maintain full compliance with Scottish DRS regulations, Duty of Care, waste‑carrier licensing, and environmental obligations.
• Ensure operational adherence to H&S legislation, traffic management standards, and fleet safety requirements.
• Deliver strong audit outcomes with the Scheme Administrator, SEPA, and transport regulators.
• Lead multi‑disciplinary operational teams including drivers, supervisors, planners, and depot managers.
• Build a high‑performance culture with strong safety behaviours, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure robust training, competency management, and succession planning.
• Manage operational budgets, fleet costs, staffing models, and catchment‑area economics.
• Drive margin improvement through efficient operations, reduced downtime, optimised routing, and strong supplier management.
• Provide accurate forecasting for fleet growth, catchment expansion, and scheme evolution.
• Lead operational improvement programmes including digital routing, telematics optimisation, automated reporting, and fleet modernisation.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, improved container recovery, and enhanced service reliability.
• Drive innovation in fleet technology, including low‑emission vehicles and alternative fuels.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills/experience/ attributes:-

• Understanding of DRS logistics, container flows, return‑point operations, and consolidation‑hub processes.
• Strong knowledge of RCV operations, including vehicle systems, maintenance regimes, telematics, and driver compliance.
• Familiarity with Scottish DRS regulatory requirements, Scheme Administrator performance standards, and SEPA obligations.
• Understanding of transport legislation, including O‑licensing, driver hours, FORS, and fleet safety standards.
• Knowledge of waste‑handling principles, contamination control, and Duty of Care documentation.
• Proven ability to lead large operational teams across multiple sites and catchment areas.
• Strong capability in coaching, performance management, and building safety‑first

cultures.

• Skilled communicator able to influence stakeholders, regulators, and scheme partners.
• Ability to interpret operational KPIs, fleet‑performance data, route efficiency metrics, and cost drivers.
• Strong analytical capability for container‑flow modelling, catchment optimisation, and performance forecasting.
• Experience managing budgets, fleet procurement cycles, and operational cost control.
• Decisive, pragmatic, and effective in fast‑paced operational environments.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a proactive, improvement‑driven mindset.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple catchments, fleets, and stakeholder demands.
• Comfortable leading from the front in operational settings.

What we do

Hargreaves Waste Management Services (HWMS) is a specialist provider of waste merchanting, EFW fuel supply and total waste management across a wide range of sectors. We deliver safe, compliant, and efficient waste solutions that help clients optimise their environmental performance, maintain operational continuity, and meet all regulatory obligations.

As part of Hargreaves Industrial Services (HIS)—a respected contract management and industrial services provider operating across power, port, steel, rail, and wider heavy industry—HWMS benefits from the strength, capability, and technical expertise of the broader Hargreaves Group. HIS is recognised for delivering large‑scale engineering, materials handling, civil works, and multi‑disciplinary project solutions both in the UK and internationally.

At HWMS, our focus is on delivering high‑quality, dependable waste management and site‑based services including:

• EfW Fuel Supply & Feedstock Management
• Bulk Artic Movements of Waste
• Waste Disposal & End‑Destination Management
• Commodity Trading (Recyclables & Waste‑Derived Fuels)
• Total Waste Management Solutions
• Selby Facility Operations

We are committed to providing a safe, reliable, and professional service to every client we support. Our teams take pride in delivering operational excellence and contributing to cleaner, compliant, and more sustainable industrial environments.

Join Our Team

HWMS—and the wider Hargreaves Industrial Services organisation—is continually looking for committed, passionate, and professional individuals to join our growing team. If you’re interested in a rewarding career with us, we’d be pleased to hear from you. Please submit your CV to our HR Department and quote reference HIS461 when applying: his.recruitment@hsgplc.co.uk