Managing Director, Head of New Business — WEEE & Circular Economy Platform

JOlivier & Partners has been retained to identify a Managing Director, Head of New Business for a pan-European investment platform building a new business in Spain across WEEE, e-waste and circular economy assets. Based in Madrid, this is a genuine build-from-scratch mandate: the successful candidate will shape the strategy, originate the first transactions and lead the creation of a platform with long-term industrial and environmental relevance.

The Organisation & Context

Our client invests across Europe in regulation-driven, impact-relevant sectors. Its Spanish ambition spans the full value chain — WEEE and e-waste recycling, metals recovery, battery recycling and related circular economy assets — through acquisitions, platform build-ups and brownfield and greenfield projects. The role offers direct exposure to board-level decision-making and significant influence over capital allocation.

Key Responsibilities

• Originate and lead M&A, platform build-ups and brownfield and greenfield opportunities across WEEE, e-waste recycling, metals recovery, battery recycling and adjacent circular economy assets, from first approach through to execution.
• Define and execute the platform’s growth strategy in Spain and across the relevant segments of the value chain, and own the long-term strategic plan presented to the investment committee and the board.
• Build a rigorous view of the Spanish market, covering regulation, feedstock availability, pricing dynamics and the competitive landscape, and translate it into a clear investment thesis and pipeline.
• Ensure full alignment with the WEEE directives, national e-waste regulation, environmental permitting and ESG frameworks, and engage credibly with regulators and public stakeholders.
• Lead post-acquisition integration and value creation programmes, building the management teams and operating model needed to scale the platform.

Candidate Profile

• More than twenty years of experience gained in waste management or environmental services, infrastructure or energy transition investing, circular economy, recycling or industrial processing, or in corporate development and strategy roles within these sectors.
• A strong track record in the origination and execution of complex transactions, combined with a deep understanding of WEEE and e-waste economics, regulatory drivers and operational realities.
• Experience working with institutional investors, boards and investment committees, with sound investment judgement, strong negotiation skills and solid financial acumen.
• A credible senior presence, able to engage with C-suite executives, investors and regulators, and the energy to operate in an entrepreneurial, fast-scaling platform.
• An international mindset and fluent English; Spanish and other languages are a clear advantage.

Compensation

Compensation will be competitive and aligned with the seniority of the role and the scale of the platform, and will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

Application

Senior executives interested in exploring this opportunity may submit their profile to JOlivier & Partners. All approaches are handled in strict confidence.