Auxiliary Plant Operator

Viridor; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus scheme

Company benefits

Job summary

Viridor is seeking an Auxiliary Plant Operator for our Beddington Energy Recovery Facility. The role covers a 40-hour week on a 12‑week rolling rota with days and nights (06:00–06:00).

You will monitor plant performance, operate equipment, and support safe, reliable operation across boiler house and turbine hall. The ideal candidate has experience in process or manufacturing environments, operates mobile plant, and holds a UK driving licence, GCSEs in English and Maths, plus strong communication

Qualifications

• Experience in process/production/manufacturing environments.
• Experience operating mobile plant.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work independently and in a shift team.
• GCSEs English and Maths.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Carry out regular plant checks and monitor machinery for safe operation.
• Support safe operation of boiler house, turbine hall and wider plant.
• Record plant and process changes in shift log and handover to next shift.
• Work with manufacturer guidelines and Safe Systems of Work.
• Report accidents, incidents and near misses per procedures.
• Support planned shutdowns to minimise downtime.
• Carry out frontline maintenance to support plant reliability.
• Operate mobile plant and machinery.
• Assist with loading/unloading activities.
• Operate weighbridges and documentations.

Skills

Mobile plant operation

Plant performance monitoring

Shift teamwork

Safety compliance

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

GCSEs English & Maths

Tools

CMMS

Forklift licence

MEWP certification

Job description

We have an opportunity in our Beddington ERF for a Auxiliary Plant Operator to join our team working 40 hours per week (12 week rolling rota - Days & Nights - (06:00 - 06:00) ) The salary for this role will be circa £45,000 per year, inclusive of shift allowance and participation in an annual bonus scheme, in addition to our great range of benefits. The closing date for applications is 25/10/2026. We encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early if we receive a high number of applications. Working as part of a shift team, you'll play an important role in ensuring the plant operates safely, efficiently and reliably, supporting day-to-day operations across the boiler house, turbine hall and wider facility. Reporting to the Shift Team Leader, you'll monitor plant performance, operate equipment and mobile plant, carry out frontline maintenance and support shutdown activities, helping to maximise plant availability and minimise downtime. Safety is at the heart of everything we do, so you'll also help ensure all activities are completed in accordance with safe systems of work, company procedures and relevant health, safety and environmental requirements.

• Carrying out regular plant checks and monitoring machinery to ensure equipment is operating safely and efficiently.
• Supporting the safe operation of the boiler house, turbine hall and wider plant.
• Recording plant and process changes within the shift log and providing thorough handovers to the incoming shift.
• Carrying out work in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and established Safe Systems of Work.
• Reporting accidents, incidents and near misses in line with company procedures.
• Supporting planned shutdown activities to help minimise plant downtime.
• Carrying out frontline maintenance to support plant reliability and availability.
• Operating mobile plant and machinery.
• Assisting with loading and unloading activities.
• Operating weighbridges, weighing vehicles and completing the required documentation.
• Supervising and coordinating the safe unloading of plant consumables including lime, carbon, ammonia and gas oil.
• Safely operating an overhead travelling crane.
• Providing on-call cover on designated days when required.
• Attending relevant training and development courses.
• Supporting other operational activities within your training and capabilities.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous experience within a process, production or manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating mobile plant.
• A good understanding of process or factory machinery.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a shift team.
• Good IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office applications.
• A resilient, proactive and self‑motivated approach to work.
• GCSEs or equivalent in English and Maths.
• A full UK driving licence.

It would be great if you also have:

• Previous experience within the waste management, energy or similar process industry.
• Knowledge of plant isolations, safety systems and Safe Systems of Work.
• Experience using Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
• Experience training new, temporary or existing colleagues.
• A forklift licence.
• Working at Height training.
• MEWP certification.
• Relevant plant maintenance or operational qualifications.

Why join us?

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys a practical, hands‑on role and wants to develop their skills within a highly operational environment. You’ll be joining a collaborative shift team where you’ll have the opportunity to build your technical knowledge, take on a varied range of responsibilities and make a direct contribution to the safe and reliable operation of the facility. Our Vision is to be the UK’s leading innovator of resource recovery and recycling, transforming waste for a climate‑positive future. Are you someone who lives and breathes high performance, leads with ambition, and would like to be part of an organisation that looks after tomorrow? Viridor has a redefined purpose, a bold Vision, and an ambitious, market‑leading strategy. We are investing in the future, and we need a talented team with exceptional people, who believe in each other, to help us achieve this. Join us, as we rise to the challenge and build a world where nothing goes to waste. Viridor is at the forefront of waste management and resource recovery in the UK, operating the largest network of Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs). We play a crucial role in supporting the UK’s climate goals by diverting waste from landfills and transforming it into valuable energy resources. We are a Great Place to Work – there has never been a more exciting time to join Viridor.

What we can offer you

We invest in our people to reward them for their hard work, and we have a host of company benefits available to you when you join – As an equal opportunities' employer, Viridor is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.