Plant Manager – Anaerobic Digestion

Hireful Ltd; Rushden; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Bank holidays

Pension 4% matched

Private Healthcare

Life Assurance

Job summary

Hireful Ltd is seeking a Plant Manager to lead an anaerobic digestion site in the UK. You will drive operations, safety, and environmental performance while maximizing gas export and ensuring regulatory compliance. Candidates should bring proven leadership in AD environments and strong process engineering skills.

The role requires ownership of site performance, budgeting, and maintenance planning, with weekend work and on-call duties as needed. Training opportunities may be provided.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people management experience in industrial operations.
• Experience with process engineering principles in energy/AD environments.
• Knowledge of safety and environmental compliance standards (HSE) and asset integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the entire site operation, people and performance.
• Own COMAH, HAZOP, DSEAR and ATEX compliance, emergency preparedness and change control.
• Oversee feedstock intake, digestate quality and stock levels, and gas quality protocols.
• Manage weekend work, remote monitoring and callouts in a leadership role.

Skills

People management

Process engineering

Regulatory compliance

Budget management

Mechanical engineering

Electrical engineering

H&S awareness

Leadership

Job description

Benefits: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, 4% matched pension, Private Healthcare, Life Assurance and much more.

Join one of the UK’s leading anaerobic digestion (AD) operators and take full ownership of an advanced gas-to-grid AD site. This is a pivotal leadership role where you’ll drive operational excellence, maximise gas export, and ensure the highest standards of safety, environmental compliance and plant performance.

As Plant Manager, you’ll lead the entire site operation, people and performance. You’ll take ownership of COMAH, HAZOP, DSEAR and ATEX compliance, emergency preparedness, change control, environmental standards and planned maintenance. You’ll also oversee feedstock intake and handling, digestate quality and stock levels, and ensure gas quality protocols are consistently achieved.

This role would suit someone with previous experience as a Biogas Plant Manager, AD Site Manager, Anaerobic Digestion Plant manager, or Operations Manager – Anaerobic Digestion.

You’ll be an experienced people manager with strong process engineering capability and proven experience operating within COMAH-regulated environments. Mechanical or electrical engineering expertise is highly desirable, alongside experience in budget management, cost control, PPM systems, H&S and environmental management.

Training can be provided towards WAMITAB Competency Management Standards and NEBOSH General Certificate where required.

A full UK driving licence is required. Weekend working, remote monitoring and occasional callouts apply.