Process Engineer

Lhoist; Buxton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lhoist Buxton is seeking a Process Engineer to drive process performance, standardisation, and continuous improvement across the plant. You will focus on improving efficiency, reliability, and cost performance through data-led analysis, process optimisation, and robust operating standards.

Working cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and engineering, you will own KPI measurement, SOPs, and the execution of improvement projects, ensuring sustainable benefits and alignment with group

Responsibilities

• Drive process performance improvements across plant operations.
• Develop and standardise SOPs and performance measures.
• Lead data-led analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support duty management and weekend operations as required.

Job description

Responsible for driving process performance, standardisation, and continuous improvement across plant/s of responsibility. The role focuses on improving plant efficiency, reliability, and cost performance through data-led analysis, process optimisation, and implementation of robust operating standards.

The Process Engineer takes ownership of key operational systems including performance measurement, standard operating procedures, and continuous improvement. Working cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and technical teams, the role identifies improvement opportunities, develops practical solutions, and ensures sustainable implementation.

Primary focus is process performance improvement and plant stability. Other responsibilities support this objective and must not detract from delivery of core performance improvements. The role is accountable for improving process outcomes across the sites, including stability, yield, and efficiency, with clear ownership of loss identification and tracking through to closure. Help support drive consistency and standardisation of process performance and ways of working across sites.

Drive progression of site process maturity in line with the Process Pyramid framework.

In addition, the role supports day-to-day operations when required, including participation in the duty management rota, ensuring alignment between improvement activity and operational delivery.

1. Health, Safety & Environmental Leadership

• Maintain and continuously improve site Health & Safety systems within production and loading operations.
• Ensure operational activities comply with the Integrated Management System, including ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001, and ISO50001.
• Monitor environmental performance on a daily basis, investigating deviations and ensuring timely reporting and corrective action.
• Maintain an understanding of site environmental permits, including Greenhouse Gas Permit requirements, ensuring compliance and proactive management of risks.

2. Process Performance & KPI Management

• Own and continuously evolve departmental KPIs, ensuring alignment with site, UK, and Group performance frameworks.
• Lead and facilitate performance briefings, ensuring clear visibility of plant performance, losses, and priorities across teams in support of managers and supervisors.
• Develop meaningful, data-driven measures that drive behaviour, accountability, and improved plant outcomes.
• Analyse plant performance (daily, weekly, monthly), identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure corrective actions are defined, owned, tracked, and closed through structured site and management meetings.
• Ensure KPIs are actively used within performance forums to drive action, ownership, and decision-making.

3. Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead and deliver continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, throughput, cost, energy efficiency, and plant reliability.
• Identify improvement opportunities through data analysis, benchmarking (internal and external), and engagement with Group and Communities of Practice.
• Drive standardisation of best practices across the plant, ensuring consistency in ways of working.
• Facilitate and support cross-functional improvement projects, ensuring sustainable implementation and measurable benefit.
• Actively contribute to Group initiatives, sharing learning and adopting best practices from across the business.

4. Process Optimisation & Technical Leadership

• Act as a technical expert to operational teams, providing guidance on process optimisation and problem-solving.
• Improve process stability through optimisation of plant parameters, control philosophy, and increased use of automation.
• Lead process trials, trials evaluation, and implementation of changes to improve operational performance.
• Support the development and optimisation of plant systems, ensuring robust, repeatable, and efficient operation.
• Develop an awareness and understanding of automation on site. Whilst driving those improvement projects.
• Ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of instrumentation data.
• Develop, review, and embed robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across production and loading operations.
• Ensure SOPs are practical, followed, and continuously improved based on operational feedback and performance data.
• Strengthen operating discipline through clear standards, visual management, and regular review within performance forums.
• Drive ownership of standards within operational teams, ensuring accountability at the appropriate level.

6. Reliability & Cross-Functional Working

• Work closely with maintenance and engineering teams to improve plant reliability and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Support root cause analysis, defect elimination, and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between process optimisation activities and maintenance strategies.
• Contribute to reliability programmes and site initiatives (e.g. MAGELLAN or equivalent frameworks).

7. Capability Development & Coaching

• Support development of operational teams through structured coaching, training, and knowledge transfer.
• Deliver planned coaching interventions to embed new skills, standards, and ways of working.
• Provide technical guidance and informal feedback to improve individual and team capability.
• Promote a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement within production teams.

8. Project & Improvement Delivery

• Lead improvement projects from concept through to implementation and sustainability.
• Develop business cases, define measurable outcomes, and track delivery of benefits.

  9. Operational Support & Duty Management

  • Participate in the Duty Manager rota, supporting safe and effective site operations.
  • Assess stock levels, production plans, and plant status to ensure customer requirements are met.
  • Support weekend and off-hours operations as required.
  • Maintain oversight of production planning inputs and alignment with sales requirements.