Operator Recruiter

M O’Brien Group; St Albans; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

M. O'Brien (Plant Hire) Ltd is seeking a recruitment professional to ensure skilled plant operators are available to meet current project demands and future workforce requirements.

This role suits someone who enjoys a fast-moving operational environment and who excels at building relationships, solving resourcing challenges, and supporting business growth. You will identify suitable candidates, conduct screenings and interviews, and manage onboarding while developing a robust talent pipeline to

Qualifications

• Experience in recruitment or workforce planning.
• Experience in construction, plant hire, or related sectors is advantageous.
• Strong communication and ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Ability to manage multiple vacancies and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with accurate recruitment records.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and coordinate hiring of plant operators across equipment.
• Source candidates from databases, job boards, networks and referrals.
• Screen, interview, and assess candidate competencies and certifications.
• Partner with managers to forecast labour requirements.
• Manage full recruitment lifecycle from contact to onboarding.
• Maintain candidate records and develop a talent pipeline.
• Support workforce planning and promotion of training opportunities.
• Represent the company and strengthen its employer brand.

Skills

Recruitment experience

Stakeholder management

Interpersonal skills

Multitasking

Organised

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Relationship building

Job description

Purpose of the Role

The successful candidate will play an important part in ensuring that skilled operators are available to meet both current project demands and future workforce requirements. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working in a fast-moving operational environment and has a passion for building relationships, solving resourcing challenges, and supporting business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit and coordinate the hiring of plant operators across a broad range of equipment, including excavators, dumpers, rollers, telehandlers, and specialist machinery.
• Identify and engage suitable candidates through recruitment databases, job boards, industry networks, referrals, training providers, and direct sourcing initiatives.
• Conduct candidate screening, interviews, and competency assessments, ensuring operators possess the necessary skills, certifications, and experience.
• Partner with operational managers, contract managers, depot teams, and project stakeholders to understand current and future labour requirements.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle, from initial contact through to onboarding and deployment.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for operators throughout the recruitment and mobilisation process.
• Maintain accurate candidate and recruitment records across internal systems and databases.
• Develop and maintain a talent pipeline of qualified operators to support ongoing and upcoming project demands.
• Assist with workforce planning activities by identifying recruitment trends, skills shortages, and future staffing requirements.
• Support employee development initiatives by promoting training, upskilling opportunities, and internal career progression.
• Represent M. O'Brien (Plant Hire) Ltd positively within the industry, helping to strengthen our reputation as an employer of choice.
• Contribute to employee referral programmes and industry engagement activities to enhance recruitment outcomes.

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience within recruitment, resourcing, talent acquisition, or workforce planning.
• Experience within construction, plant hire, engineering, logistics, infrastructure, or a similar operational sector would be advantageous.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels.
• The ability to manage multiple vacancies and priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive, organised, and results-driven approach to work.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate recruitment records.
• Confidence in engaging with candidates, managers, and external stakeholders.
• A positive attitude with excellent problem-solving capabilities.