AD Plant Operations Lead - Biogas & Throughput

Envar; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance with GP24 access

Employee Assistance Programme

Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Company Events

GymFlex salary sacrifice

Job summary

Envar is seeking an experienced Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Plant Manager to lead the safe, compliant and efficient operation of its AD facility in West Malling, Kent. You will drive plant availability, biogas production, feedstock throughput and digestate quality while ensuring environmental permits and health and safety compliance.

You will lead operational teams, manage budgets, drive continuous improvement and deliver site performance targets, partnering with laboratory and technical staff to

Qualifications

• Significant operational management experience within AD, waste management, recycling, utilities, process manufacturing or energy generation.
• Strong understanding of biological treatment and anaerobic digestion processes.
• Knowledge of Environmental Permits and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing operational teams and contractors.
• Budget management experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the AD facility.
• Ensure feedstock reception, processing, digestion and digestate production operate efficiently.
• Maximise plant uptime and throughput.
• Monitor and improve biogas and biomethane production performance.
• Ensure all process and operational KPIs are achieved.
• Develop and implement operational procedures and best practices.
• Champion a positive health and safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety procedures.
• Manage risk assessments, safe systems of work and permit-to-work procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Environmental Permits, ABPR requirements and EA regulations.
• Lead site audits and inspections.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with all environmental conditions and regulatory requirements.
• Manage odour, noise, emissions and environmental monitoring programmes.
• Support permit variations and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Maintain excellent relationships with regulators and stakeholders.
• Monitor process biology and optimize digester performance.
• Review daily plant data and identify performance improvement opportunities.
• Manage feedstock mix to maximize gas yields and process stability.
• Oversee digestate quality and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with laboratory and technical teams.
• Work alongside the Operational Team to maintain asset reliability.
• Ensure preventative maintenance programmes through the CMMS system are followed.
• Minimize unplanned downtime.
• Manage contractor performance and engineering service providers.
• Manage site operational budgets.
• Control labor, maintenance, utility and consumable costs.
• Identify efficiency improvements to reduce operating costs.
• Support preparation of business cases and capital expenditure proposals.
• Lead, coach and develop site teams.
• Conduct performance reviews and training assessments.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and succession planning.
• Promote employee engagement and accountability.
• Build a culture of operational excellence.
• Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop operational KPIs and reporting systems.
• Analyze trends and implement corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to increase throughput, gas production and profitability.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Commercial awareness

Problem solving

Operational management

Biological treatment

Environmental permits

Contractor management

Budget management

Full UK Driving Licence

Education

Engineering / Environmental qualification (degree or HNC/HND)

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Envar is seeking an experienced Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Plant Manager to lead the safe, compliant and efficient operation of its AD facility in West Malling, Kent. You will drive plant availability, biogas production, feedstock throughput and digestate quality while ensuring environmental permits and health and safety compliance.

You will lead operational teams, manage budgets, drive continuous improvement and deliver site performance targets, partnering with laboratory and technical staff to