Plant Operations Lead

Intersect Global Limited; Lewes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A plant hire services company in Lewes is looking for a role that involves coordinating daily operations, managing teams, and ensuring efficient plant hire service delivery. Ideal candidates should possess excellent organisational skills, leadership experience, and a strong understanding of plant hire operations. A full UK driving license is essential. This position offers a competitive salary of £40-45k per year.

Qualifications

• Experience in coordinating operational activity across multiple stakeholders.
• Background in managing or supporting teams effectively.
• Willingness to undertake relevant training.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate between internal and external plant hire operations.
• Monitor equipment use and reduce downtime.
• Provide oversight of daily compliance and safety routines.

Skills

Organisational skills

Leadership capability

Analytical mindset

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Full UK driving licence

GCSE English and Maths or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Business systems (ERP, asset tracking)

Job description

West Sussex

£40-45k per year. Must drive, access to company van if required during working hours.

Role

Support and coordinate the daily operations of internal and external plant hire. You’ll line-manage key area leads, support the Plant Manager, and ensure smooth, efficient, and compliant delivery of plant hire services aligned with operational plans.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate between internal and external plant hire, ensuring structured planning and clarity with minimal duplication or delays.
• Monitor equipment use and help reduce downtime—identify underused assets and recommend improvements.
• Investigate incidents (damages, losses), track trends, and support awareness initiatives like toolbox talks.
• Work with the Plant Manager to design and implement a sustainable external hire solution prioritising internal supply and cost-efficiency.
• Support stock control, supplier pricing, and negotiating supply agreements for faster turnaround and better value.
• Provide oversight of daily compliance and safety routines.
• Line-manage the Stores, Internal Hire, and External Hire teams; cover the Workshop and Fleet functions when needed.
• Attend key planning sessions and act as liaison between project teams and plant hire functions.
• Track incoming/outgoing plant to meet deadlines and manage hire fulfilment with scheduling and turnaround.
• Drive system improvements in EVision, and help clean and optimise system usage.
• Lead consistency across departmental functions while developing a customer-facing information-sharing solution.
• Maintain and share operational data—prepare monthly reports on internal/external hire spend, revenue, trends, and activity.
• Coordinate and share regular equipment toolbox talks, updates, datasheets, and catalogues.

About You

• Excellent organisational skills—you’re comfortable managing multiple priorities effectively.
• Strong leadership capability with experience in team coordination or line management.
• Solid understanding of plant hire operations, logistics, or workshop/fleet management.
• Analytical mindset with ability to track performance metrics and support data-driven decision-making.
• Familiarity with compliance routines, incident investigation, and risk awareness.
• Tech-savvy—comfortable using systems like EVision or similar, with a focus on improving workflows.
• Able to engage stakeholders, communicate clearly, and support operational planning across departments.

Skills & Knowledge

• Excellent organisational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities at once
• Confident in identifying process gaps and pushing forward practical, common sense improvements
• Clear and direct communication style, with ability to link up activity across teams and departments
• Strong attention to detail, especially in task follow through, documentation, and internal communication
• Working knowledge of plant/fleet/logistics operations is helpful but not essential

Experience

• Proven experience coordinating operational activity across multiple stakeholders, ideally in a fast paced setting
• Background in managing or supporting teams, with a practical, hands on approach to problem solving
• Track record of resolving issues quickly and effectively within mixed skill teams
• Familiarity with plant hire, supply chain, or similar sectors is helpful but not essential

Technologies

• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools
• Comfortable using or learning business systems (e.g., ERP or asset tracking platforms)
• Able to support basic system/process troubleshooting and drive consistency in digital updates
• Capable of pulling together summary reports, trackers, and shared documents that others can easily use

Training

• Willingness to undertake relevant training (e.g., SSSTS, LOLER/PUWER awareness, hire systems, health & safety)
• Comfortable delivering toolbox talks and contributing to departmental communications
• May occasionally support or develop internal training materials and documentation relating to equipment usage
• Awareness of safe working practices and ability to reinforce a culture of compliance

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence (essential)
• CSCS card (desirable)
• Recognised management or supervisory training (e.g., ILM) is desirable
• Business Administration or relevant vocational qualification (desirable)
• GCSE English and Maths or equivalent

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