Assistant Shift Operator (Control Room) - Energy from Waste Facility - Bedfordshire

Encyclis; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy recovery company in the UK seeks an Assistant Shift Plant Operator to ensure safe and efficient plant operations. Candidates should have a vocational qualification in a technical or science subject and experience in plant operations. The role involves working on a rotating shift basis and contributing to Health and Safety initiatives. Join a diverse team at the Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility and make a difference.

Qualifications

• Experience in plant operations, process plants, or maintenance.
• Practical experience with large boiler and rotating plant preferred.
• Relevant qualifications in energy recovery will be considered.

Responsibilities

• Operate the facility safely and efficiently on a shift rotation basis.
• Monitor Health and Safety performance and participate in safety inspections.
• Support the Shift Team Leader with site staff and contractor coordination.
• Maintain plant cleanliness and manage consumable stock levels.
• Act as a Fire Marshall during emergencies under guidance.

Skills

Health and Safety compliance

Operational procedures development

Equipment operation

Emergency coordination

Education

National Vocational Qualification Level 2 in a technical or science subject

Job description

Overview

JOIN US IN MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE TO THE WORLD WE LIVE IN!

Who are ENCYCLIS?

ENCYCLIS, (formally known as Covanta Europe), is a leader in the energy from waste industry and we are looking for our next talented individual to join us on our continuous mission of achieving brilliant things!

We generate sustainable electricity for homes and businesses from non-recyclable waste. The ash from the process is also recycled to become building materials, and metals are recovered for re-use.

Our facilities are some of the most advanced in the world! They boast new, state of the art equipment and tools, ensuring safety is at the heart and its people are set up for success.

You will be joining a team of highly skilled, diverse individuals and a business that applauds their successes, loves idea sharing and values its people.

We offer fantastic benefits here!

Where you will be working

Encyclis Rookery South Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) is located near Stewartby in Bedfordshire, just a few minutes off the M1 Motorway and only 20 minutes from Milton Keynes central.

This impressive three-line facility has been operational since January 2022 and has the capacity to process 585,000 tonnes of residual waste annually, delivering sustainable electricity to meet the needs of around 112,000 homes.

The closing date for applications is 21st November 2025.

We encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early if wereceive a high number of applications.

The Opportunity

The Assistant Shift Plant Operator (APO) is responsible for the carrying out operational routines and plant checks to ensure the facility is operating safely, efficiently, and within operational design parameters. The APO reports to the Operations Shift Team Leader and will coordinate activities under the guidance of the Shift Plant Operator and Shift Team Leader to ensure the facility remains operationally compliant with the Environmental Permit and all related emissions to air, land and water.

The position works on a rotating shift pattern as follows:

• 4 days on shift, followed by 5 days off
• 5 days on shift, followed by 4 days off
• 5 days on shift, followed by 12 days off

Each shift is 12 hours long and is a mixture of days (6am - 6pm) and nights (6pm - 6am)

What we need from you…

Key Duties & Responsibilities of the role

• Operate the facility in a safe, environmentally compliant and efficient manner on a shift rotation basis. To include waste feeding and overhead cranes, combustion of municipal and commercial waste streams, LP and HP steam systems, fans, pumps, Steam Turbine Generator (STG), ash handling, water treatment processes and boiler water chemistry, conveyors, filter systems and valves.
• The Assistant Plant Operator will take an active role in promoting, monitoring and improving the site H&S performance to include PPMS, routines and safety inspections, and partake in H&S meetings and forums.
• Develop, implement, and maintain the facilities operational procedures and risk assessments.
• Reporting any Health, Safety and Environmental unsafe conditions, accidents or incidents to the Shift Team Leader.
• Support the Shift Team Leader with coordination and communication of the safe working practices of site staff and contractors.
• Undertake training to safely operate mobile plant and overhead cranes.
• Carryout, basic first line PPMs and operational tasks as directed by the Shift Team Leader and support the maintenance department with routine and non-routine maintenance activities.
• Support the day shift operations with their duties and be flexible to the needs of facility.
• Take ownership of plant cleanliness and ensure excellent standards of housekeeping are maintained.
• Take deliveries of consumables, and monitor and manage consumable stock levels
• Work in accordance with safe operational procedures and risk assessments.
• Support operational improvement processes and corrective actions, defect notifications and rectification.
• During emergency situations the Assistant Shift Plant Operator will co-ordinate with the emergency services and perform the duties of a Fire Marshall whilst under the direction of the Shift Team Leader.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• The preferred level of education is to a National Vocational Qualification Level 2 or above in a technical or science subject.

Relevant other qualifications with energy recovery or large process plant experience will be considered for the role.

• This role requires experience in either plant operations, process plant or maintenance.
• Preferable practical experience with large boiler and rotating plant.
• Training will be provided in accordance with the facility Training Matrix.

Want to know more about what we do?

Check out more information about this fantastic site here: Rookery South ERF