Plant Operator

Babcock International; Chatham; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor is seeking a Plant Operator to maintain and operate military and commercial vehicles and equipment at RSME Medway. The role involves hands-on support to ensure training areas are functional and safe. The ideal candidate will have experience in plant machinery operation, a strong focus on safety, and a collaborative spirit. Benefits include generous holiday and pension schemes, professional development opportunities, and health consultations. Join us in delivering essential training for the UK's defence sector.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to Digital GP and health checks

Employee share scheme

Volunteering paid leave

Holiday Trading benefits

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience operating plant machinery.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Strong awareness of safety and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Operating plant equipment such as dozers, rollers, and tracked vehicles.
• Driving military and commercial vehicles.
• Maintaining plant training zones.

Skills

Experience operating plant machinery

Team collaboration

Safety and compliance awareness

Comfortable in outdoor environments

Education

C Licence (HGV Class 2)

Dozer operator experience

Job description

Overview

As a Plant Operator, you'll be at the heart of maintaining and supporting the plant training areas at RSME Medway. This is a hands‑on role where you'll operate a range of military and commercial vehicles and plant equipment, directly contributing to the delivery of essential training for the UK's defence sector. You'll be part of a close‑knit team, helping to ensure our training environments are safe, functional, and fit for purpose.

Responsibilities

• Operating plant equipment such as dozers, rollers, and tracked vehicles across training areas (when trained to do so)
• Driving and manoeuvring military and commercial vehicles around site
• Supporting the transport of personnel and equipment to training exercises
• Maintaining the condition and usability of plant training zones
• Collaborating with a team of 14 to deliver high-quality operational support

Please note that this position involves manual work. This could include lifting, bending, using tools or standing for extended periods of time. The role is based onsite at RSME, Brompton Barracks and the set working times are Monday to Thursday 7:30am‑4:30pm, Friday 7:30am‑4:00pm, totalling 37 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience operating plant machinery
• Comfortable working in a physically active, outdoor environment
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team
• Strong awareness of safety and compliance standards
• C Licence (HGV Class 2) highly desirable
• Dozer operator experience highly desirable

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) clearance for this role.

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• 'Be Kind Day' enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

At Babcock, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Plant Operator at the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME), near Chatham, Kent.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.

Babcock International For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.