Great operations rely on safe, reliable, and well-controlled processes - effective plant management, accurate information, robust procedures, and a strong commitment to health, safety, and environmental standards. In a complex industrial environment, attention to detail, proactive monitoring, and effective communication are essential to ensuring plant performance remains consistent, compliant, and efficient.
As a Recycling Plant Operator, you'll play an important role within the operational team, supporting the safe and continuous operation of the Recycling Plant. Working across a range of equipment associated with Wastewater, Energy from Waste, and Rendering operations, you'll monitor and manage plant performance, respond to changing process requirements, support maintenance activities, maintain accurate operational records, and help ensure the plant operates within all relevant air and water discharge consents.
Reporting to the Shift Team Leader, you'll combine strong operational awareness, technical aptitude, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to help keep the plant running safely and effectively. You'll play a key role in identifying potential issues, maintaining high standards of workplace organisation, and ensuring operational targets and environmental requirements are consistently achieved.
In this role you will:
• Operate, start, stop, and monitor Recycling Plant assets using SCADA and supervisory control systems to meet operational targets.
• Monitor plant performance and process conditions, ensuring operations remain within required air and water discharge consents.
• Anticipate process requirements and respond proactively to changing conditions to maintain safe, stable, and efficient operations.
• Report daily on plant performance, escalating potential issues, risks, or deviations to the Shift Team Leader.
• Maintain accurate operational documentation and records, including required process measurements and data.
• Complete T-Cards for hazards and near misses, supporting a strong safety culture and compliance with Health & Safety procedures.
• Support plant maintenance and chemical stock management in coordination with Engineers and the wider operational team.
• Maintain high standards of housekeeping and workplace organisation while identifying opportunities to improve plant efficiency, reliability, safety, and performance.
You're someone who understands that excellent plant operation is about far more than monitoring machinery.
• You have experience working in an operational, process, manufacturing, engineering, utilities, or industrial environment, ideally within a complex plant operation.
• You have an understanding of process optimisation and plant performance, with experience monitoring supervisory, control, or SCADA systems.
• You are safety conscious, with a strong understanding of Health & Safety legislation, company procedures, and environmental requirements.
• You are proactive and observant, able to anticipate process requirements, identify potential issues, and take appropriate action before problems escalate.
• You are calm and resilient under pressure, able to respond positively to changing priorities and operational challenges while maintaining high standards.
• You are methodical and detail focused, with the ability to accurately record process measurements, maintain operational documentation, and monitor plant data.
• You communicate clearly and work collaboratively with Shift Team Leaders, Engineers, and wider operational teams, taking ownership and using a practical, solutions-focused approach.
• You take pride in maintaining high standards of housekeeping and workplace organisation, with experience in Energy from Waste, Wastewater or Water Treatment, Combustion, Nuclear, Rendering, or other heavy industrial environments being advantageous.
The impact you will have:
You will play a key role in ensuring the Recycling Plant operates safely, efficiently, and within required environmental and operational limits. By monitoring plant assets and SCADA systems, responding to changing process requirements, maintaining accurate records, and identifying issues early, you'll help keep operations running reliably and consistently meet performance targets.
Working closely with Shift Team Leaders and Engineers, you'll support plant maintenance, chemical stock management, and effective resolution of operational issues. You'll also contribute to a strong safety culture through hazard and near-miss reporting, while maintaining high standards of housekeeping and workplace organisation.
Ultimately, your contribution will help ensure the Recycling Plant remains safe, reliable, compliant, and continuously improving, supporting the protection of people, the environment, and the wider business.
What’s in it for you:
You’ll benefit from a comprehensive rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and career development. This includes a company pension, life assurance, company sick pay, enhanced annual leave that increases with service, and access to a health and wellbeing programme alongside an Employee Assistance Programme with private GP services. You’ll also have opportunities to grow through coaching, training, and development support, plus practical perks such as cycle to work and electric vehicle schemes, free on-site parking, and access to a range of retail discounts.
We believe our strength comes from our people. We value diversity, encourage development, and create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Ready to be part of the story?
If you're an experienced plant operator or someone with a strong operational background who takes pride in safe and efficient plant performance, enjoys solving problems, and thrives in a busy industrial environment where attention to detail really matters, we'd love to hear from you.
This is an opportunity to join a team where your work will have a direct impact on the safety, reliability, environmental compliance, and performance of the Recycling Plant. You'll play an important part in ensuring plant operations remain controlled and effective, potential issues are identified early, and the processes behind every operation support the wider success of the business.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must therefore have the existing right to work in the UK for the duration of the employment.
Shift Pattern: Dayshift and Backshift rotation.
Hourly Rate: £16.95/hour