Plant Manager – Chemical Processing / Oil Refining

Mark Stracey Recruitment; Stafford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Company pension

Job summary

Mark Stracey Recruitment is assisting an established oil refining and lubricants producer in Staffordshire to recruit a Plant Manager who will assume full responsibility for the site’s technical and operational performance.

The role requires leading production and maintenance teams, ensuring HSE compliance, driving process improvements, and delivering profitability for a hazardous chemical processing facility.

Qualifications

• Significant, recent leadership experience within a hazardous chemical manufacturing or processing facility.
• Strong technical background with proven experience managing plant operations and performance.
• Sound knowledge of process safety, environmental compliance and operational best practice.
• Experience improving production efficiency, reliability and profitability.
• COMAH and distillation experience would be a distinct advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day plant operations, production and technical teams.
• Ensure the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee manufacturing output, maintenance, laboratories and quality control.
• Drive operational efficiency, process optimisation and continuous improvement.
• Manage technical projects, process development and site improvements.
• Identify opportunities to increase productivity, profitability and plant performance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Plant operations management

Process safety

Environmental compliance

Profitability focus

Job description

Plant Manager - Chemical Processing / Oil Refining

Stafford, Staffordshire | Highly Competitive Salary (Up to Six Figures) + Generous Bonus + Benefits

An excellent opportunity for an experienced Plant Manager to take full responsibility for a profitable oil refining facility, with the freedom to drive improvements, influence investment and shape its future growth.

Our client is an established, independent producer of lubricants, diesel and base oils, using recovered waste oil through batch and continuous refining processes, including distillation.

With exciting plans for expansion and further investment, they are looking for an experienced Plant Manager to lead operations, improve plant performance and ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently and profitably.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Board, you'll have full responsibility for the technical and operational performance of the site.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading day-to-day plant operations, production and technical teams.
• Ensuring the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and regulatory compliance.
• Overseeing manufacturing output, maintenance, laboratories and quality control.
• Driving operational efficiency, process optimisation and continuous improvement.
• Managing technical projects, process development and site improvements.
• Identifying opportunities to increase productivity, profitability and plant performance.

What We're Looking For

• Significant, recent leadership experience within a hazardous chemical manufacturing or processing facility.
• A strong technical background with proven experience managing plant operations and performance.
• Sound knowledge of process safety, environmental compliance and operational best practice.
• Experience improving production efficiency, reliability and profitability.
• COMAH and distillation experience would be a distinct advantage.
• The confidence to lead independently and work directly with senior leadership.

What's on Offer?

• Highly competitive salary, potentially reaching six figures, depending on experience.
• Generous discretionary performance-related bonus.
• Company pension and additional benefits.
• A senior leadership position with genuine autonomy and influence.
• The opportunity to play a key role in future site investment and expansion.

Ready to Take the Lead?

If you're an experienced Plant Manager or senior technical/operations leader from a hazardous chemical processing environment, we'd like to hear from you