Operations Manager

Dornan Engineering Services Ltd; Atherstone; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dornan Engineering Group is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the waste-to-energy facility in the UK. The role reports to the Plant Manager and requires directing Operations and Fuel Handling teams to maximise availability and efficiency.

You will work closely with Maintenance to plan and execute outages, drive safety culture and ensure compliance with environmental permits and company policies. This is a senior leadership role within site operations.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in operations management.
• Strong focus on safety, compliance and environmental standards.
• Proven ability to lead large teams and coordinate with maintenance.
• Experience in planning around outages and maintenance windows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the safe, reliable and efficient day-to-day operation of the waste-to-energy facility.
• Manage approximately 10 Operations and Fuel Handling employees, including shift-based and day personnel.
• Chair daily operational meetings, reviewing plant performance, priorities and issues.
• Provide leadership to Operations team, setting high standards for safety, performance and teamwork.
• Ensure effective communication between Operations, Maintenance and other site functions.
• Lead investigations and root cause analysis following plant issues and implement corrective actions.
• Produce and contribute to weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual plant performance reporting.
• Promote continuous improvement and proactive identification of improvements.
• Support operational planning to align plant resources with business needs.

Job description

Operations Manager

Dornan Engineering Group is a leading international engineering contractor delivering complex, high-value projects across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join the leadership team at our waste-to-energy facility in location .

Reporting directly to the Plant Manager, you will take responsibility for the safe, compliant and efficient day-to-day operation of the facility. You will lead the Operations and Fuel Handling teams, drive plant performance and work closely with the Maintenance Manager to maximise availability, reliability and operational efficiency.

This is a key leadership position within the site management team and an excellent opportunity for an experienced operations professional to make a real impact on plant performance, people development and continuous improvement.

Your day will include:

• Operational Leadership
  • Lead the safe, reliable and efficient day-to-day operation of the waste-to-energy facility.
  • Manage approximately 10 Operations and Fuel Handling employees, including shift-based and day personnel.
  • Chair daily operational meetings, reviewing plant performance, operational priorities, emerging issues and planned activities.
  • Provide clear leadership and direction to the Operations team, setting high standards for safety, performance, accountability and teamwork.
  • Ensure effective communication between Operations, Maintenance and other site functions.
• Plant Performance
  • Monitor plant and unit performance, identifying opportunities to improve availability, reliability, efficiency and operational performance.
  • Lead operational investigations and root cause analysis following plant issues, ensuring appropriate corrective and preventative actions are implemented.
  • Produce and contribute to weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual plant performance reporting.
  • Promote a culture of continuous improvement, encouraging the team to proactively identify and deliver improvements.
  • Support effective operational planning to ensure plant resources are aligned with business and facility requirements.
• Maintenance & Outage Planning
  • Work closely with the Maintenance Manager to establish maintenance priorities based on plant condition and operational requirements.
  • Coordinate operational requirements around planned and reactive maintenance.
  • Play a leading role in the planning, preparation and execution of major planned plant outages.
  • Ensure Operations and Maintenance work collaboratively to maximise plant availability and minimise disruption.
• Safety, Environmental & Compliance
  • Ensure the facility operates in full compliance with all relevant health and safety, environmental, statutory, regulatory and project-specific requirements.
  • Take responsibility for operational environmental reporting in accordance with the requirements of the plant's Environmental Agency Permit.
  • Ensure suitably trained and competent personnel are available to meet operational and compliance requirements.
  • Maintain and promote robust safe systems of work for employees, visitors, contractors, client personnel and other stakeholders on site.
  • Ensure compliance with Dornan's Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental policies, procedures and management systems.
  • Champion a proactive safety culture where standards are understood, owned and consistently maintained.

People Leadership & Development

People leadership will be a key part of this position. You will:

• Coach, mentor and develop Operations and Fuel Handling employees.
• Ensure operators receive the appropriate technical, safety and operational training required for their roles.
• Provide regular, constructive feedback and support individual development.
• Build a positive, accountable and collaborative working environment.
• Encourage employees to take ownership of plant performance, safety and continuous improvement.
• Identify training and competency requirements and ensure appropriate development plans are implemented.

About You

• Takes ownership of responsibility and accountability
• Ability to prioritise workload and delegate effectively
• A focus on continuous improvement
• Committed to mentoring and providing ongoing support to team

Our Network through mentorship, development, and advocacy empowers women and promotes a more forward thinking construction industry.

Dornan Strava Club: employees can take part in fitness challenges, build connections across the business, and contribute to monthly charitable giving initiatives.

Be Yourself: We want everyone at Dornan to feel welcome, valued, and supported. By embracing different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, we create an environment where people can be themselves, grow their careers, and thrive.