Control Panel Operator

Treatt; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Generous holiday entitlement

Discretionary annual bonus

BUPA medical and dental

Pension with 9% employer contribution

Life assurance

Group income protection

Job summary

Treatt Plc is seeking a Control Panel Operator at its site in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. The role focuses on safe, efficient operation of the Siemens PCS7 DCS within a COMAH Tier 1 setting, monitoring and adjusting plant processes to meet targets.

You will handle alarms, perform safety checks, and work with engineers to ensure continuous, compliant production. Training and safety drills are part of daily routines.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and interpret written instructions.
• Computer literate with strong maths aptitude.
• Experience of operating SCADA systems is desirable.
• Knowledge of distillation and gas chromatography is beneficial.
• Health and safety awareness is essential; IOSH/NEBOSH qualifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and operate the Siemens PCS7 DCS to control plant processes and equipment.
• Control plant systems through the control panel interface for efficient operation.
• Respond to alarms, faults and emergencies per SOPs and safety protocols.
• Review system data and performance metrics to detect anomalies and take corrective actions.
• Observe processes to maximize efficiencies and identify abnormal operating conditions.
• Ensure operations comply with COMAH regulations and local health and safety standards.
• Conduct routine safety checks and ensure interlocks are functioning correctly.
• Maintain logs of activities and report performance issues to supervisors.
• Collaborate with engineers and maintenance teams to ensure smooth operations.
• Act as first point of contact for emergencies and coordinate with response teams.

Skills

Diagnostic capability

Reading instructions

Computer literacy

Mathematical skills

SCADA experience

Distillation knowledge

Gas chromatography

Health & safety awareness

Tools

SCADA systems

Job description

Job title: Control Panel Operator

Reporting to: Production Manager

Location: Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk

Shift options:

Rotating day shift: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday on a rotating weekly shift pattern: early shift: 06:00 - 14:00 or late shift: 13:45 - 21:45

Night shift: 38 hours per week (Monday to Thursday, 20:45-06:15)

Weekend shift: 36.75 hours per week, Friday to Sunday on a rotating weekly shift pattern: 6:00 - 18:15 or 18:00 - 6:15.

The Opportunity

The Control Panel Operator is responsible for the safe, efficient, and continuous operation of the Siemens PCS7 control systems within a COMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Tier 1 site. This position ensures the plant operates within defined parameters, complies with safety standards, and meets operational targets. The operator will monitor and control all aspects of the Siemens PCS7 Distributed Control System (DCS) to ensure safe and optimized plant performance.

What it's like to work here

We've been making the world taste better since 1886 and sell over 3000 products in more than 90 countries, but we're only just getting started. We're on an exciting journey and have ambitious plans to become the indispensable partner of choice for the world's leading flavour and fragrance houses, beverage and consumer brands.

On joining Treatt, you'll become one of over 400 international experts, working together to collectively surprise and delight our customers. Nothing is more important to us than the happiness of our people as without them, we'd never succeed.

We think Treatt's a great place to work, but don't just take our word for it:

"Everyone wants your feedback and opinion; it feels like a place of study where nurturing and encouragement are the standard. It is very clear the hard work that goes into providing excellence for customers, but it is also very apparent that managers have the same goals for helping us all to progress."

"Joining my close and supportive team was the most enjoyable way to gain more skills and increase my knowledge"

"Treatt creates an environment to help you be the best you can, with no two days the same and opportunities always available to help you learn and develop. The people and the culture create a fantastic company to be part of" -

What you'll be doing

The responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

• Monitor and operate the Siemens PCS7 DCS to control plant processes and equipment.

• Control and adjust plant systems through the control panel interface, ensuring efficient operation and stability.

• Respond to alarms, faults, and emergency conditions as per standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols.

• Review and analyze system data and performance metrics to detect anomalies and take corrective actions as necessary.

• Closely observe the processes to maximize process efficiencies and identify any abnormal operating conditions.

• Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure that all operations comply with local regulations, health and safety standards, and the COMAH regulations.

• Conduct routine safety checks, ensuring safety systems, emergency shutdowns, and interlocks are functioning correctly.

• Immediately report any safety concerns, operational hazards, or incidents according to site protocols.

• Participate in regular safety drills, audits, and training to maintain high levels of safety awareness.

• Documentation & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate and detailed logs of operational activities, system anomalies, and maintenance requests.

• Report system performance issues or potential risks to the Operations Supervisor and relevant stakeholders.

• Assist in the preparation of performance reports and daily shift handover documentation. Collaboration and Communication:

• Work closely with engineers, maintenance teams, and supervisors to ensure smooth operations and address any technical concerns.

• Communicate effectively with other control room operators, following shift protocols to ensure continuity of operations.

• Emergency Response:

• Act as the first point of contact for emergency situations involving process systems or control panel failures.

• Execute emergency shutdown procedures when necessary, ensuring the safe isolation of hazardous systems.

• Coordinate with emergency response teams to mitigate risks and protect plant assets.

Process Control

• Lead a 'right first time' policy and help to ensure that all order are met on time and within specification.

• Ensuring any losses in 'day to day' production are identified, and root cause is identified.

• Monitor production distillations and give technical advice as the distillations proceed including a dedicated and 'rapid response' GC analysis of the fractions

• Contribute to continuous improvement in the department (e.g. suggestions on improvements in efficiency, cost cutting, improvements in effectiveness of operations).

• Check, and adjust if needed, current process instructions in time for the distillation starting

• Ensure any issues or delays are communicated to the relevant departments in a timely manner.

• Always maintain your own and others health and safety, ensuring a safe working environment.

What we're looking for

• Diagnostic capability

• Ability to be able to read and interpret written instructions

• Computer Literate

• Strong aptitude in maths; ability to use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to perform flow, pressure, performance and meter calculations

• Experience of operating SCADA systems would be desirable, but not essential.

• Prior knowledge of distillation is favourable.

• Experience of Gas Chromatography is desirable but not essential

• IOSH Managing Safely/NEBOSH Process Safety qualification desirable but not essential, but a strong Health and Safety awareness is essential.

What we'll do for you

• competitive salary
• a generous holiday entitlement as well as the opportunity to purchase additional holiday
• we also offer a discretionary annual bonus
• BUPA medical and dental schemes
• pension scheme with 9% employer contribution
• life assurance
• group income protection

With the encouragement and development you need, we help you to become your ultimate you. Beyond building a successful career, we also support the wishes and ambitions of our staff outside of the office in achieving a health work/life balance - the wellbeing of our staff is paramount to us, which we actively promote and support by regularly delivering a variety of wellbeing initiatives and offering responsibility based flexibility. There will also be opportunities to be actively involved in community and charity projects and to take part in numerous subsidized social events.

Polite Notice

We politely request that we are not contacted by any recruitment agencies. We have a preferred supplier list and high volumes of speculative calls from agencies negatively impact upon the efficiency of our business. Please help us to maintain the highest levels of customer service by respecting our wishes.