Shift Technician

Vital Energi; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Vital Energi is seeking a Shift Technician for our Port Clarence biomass facility in Teesside. You will operate the entire plant from the Control Room, manage emergencies, and perform local checks to ensure safe, efficient and continuous plant operations.

Role involves a rotating shift pattern with potential overtime to meet operational demands. You will collaborate with maintenance to troubleshoot issues, monitor emissions, and support procedures and safety systems.

Qualifications

• Qualified to NVQ Level 4 / ONC or equivalent in a relevant Engineering discipline.
• Previous experience in control room operations.
• Good knowledge of combustion and power generation, preferably in a power plant or waste management environment.

Responsibilities

• Maintains safe and efficient plant operation including optimised boiler combustion and maximizing electrical generation.
• Monitors plant operational and emissions data; responds to changing conditions for safety and efficiency.
• Applies trend analysis to DCS records and takes corrective actions.
• Co-ordinates and trains other staff as required.
• Oversees operation of plant equipment; works with maintenance to troubleshoot root causes.
• Reads meters and records data to verify operating conditions.
• Conduct daily routine maintenance tasks.
• Assist in developing plant operating procedures and instructions.
• Release plant for maintenance work under safe systems of work.

Skills

Control room operations

Combustion & power generation

Analytical thinking

Team leadership

Problem solving

Independent work

Education

NVQ Level 4 / ONC or equivalent in Engineering

Tools

DCS systems

Boiler operations

Job description

Shift Technician

Start your sustainable career with Vital Energi at Port Clarence! We’re transforming Energy from Waste, helping power local communities, and protecting the planet for future generations. Join us and be part of the future of energy.

The Opportunity

We’re excited to announce that we’re looking for a Shift Technician at our new energy from waste infrastructure, Port Clarence biomass facility in Teesside.

As a Shift Technician, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring safe, efficient, and continuous operations across the entire facility.

You will be responsible for operating the entire facility from the main Control Room and managing any emergency situations that may arise to ensure safe, efficient and continuous plant operations. Local operation and plant checks are also integral to this role.

The role operates on a rotating shift pattern, and overtime may be a requirement of the role in order to meet operational demands.

Vital Energi- Port Clarence- Strategic asset ownership journey

Port Clarence represents the next phase of Vital Energi's evolution from energy solutions provider to significant asset owner, processing 320,000 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and produce over 30Mwe, this marks a substantial step-change in scale and ambition. Vital Energi will further invest in the optimisation of the Drakelow EfW plant to improve its productivity and returns, ensuring it continues to deliver robust operational and financial performance as part of the company’s growing portfolio. The energy generated by both facilities will be exported back to the national grid.

The Role

• Maintains safe and efficient plant operation including optimised boiler combustion, maximizing electrical generation, managing in-plant power consumption, and operating within all applicable permits.
• Monitors plant operational and emissions data; detects and responds to changing conditions with regard to maximizing plant safety and efficiency.
• Applies trend analysis to DCS records, monitors deviations and applies appropriate corrective measures to ensure that the plant is operated efficiently and within its design capabilities at all times.
• Co-ordinates, directs, and trains other staff as required.
• Oversees the operation of plant equipment. Works with maintenance to troubleshoot problems, determine root cause, and the best course of corrective action.
• Liaises with maintenance staff over the application of safe systems of work to allow maintenance tasks to be carried out safely and with the minimum of disruption to plant operations.
• Reads meters and gauges or automatic recording devices at specified intervals to verify operating conditions. Records data such as temperature of equipment, hours of operation, fuel consumed, water levels, analysis of flue gases, voltage load and generator balance.
• Conduct daily routine maintenance tasks
• Assist in developing plant operating procedures and instructions
• Release plant for maintenance work under the safe system of work process.
• Directs other shift team members as necessary to attend to on-plant issues.
• Undertakes additional duties as may be assigned by the Shift Team Leader from time to time.

The Person

Education/experience:

• Qualified to NVQ Level 4 / ONC or equivalent in a relevant Engineering discipline.
• Previous experience in control room operations.
• Good knowledge of combustion and power generation, preferably having gained experience in a power plant or waste management environment.
• Able to delegate tasks and ensure follow through.
• Analytical ability, enthusiastic and competent problem solver with a practical approach to solving engineering problems.
• Able to coach and motivate others.
• Works with a diverse workforce effectively.
• Trains and shares expertise with others
• Ability to work independently and take initiative where required.

Applicants must have the unrestricted and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of employment, without the need for sponsorship. Due to the nature of this role, we are unable to support visa sponsorship or employ individuals with time‑limited permission or conditions attached to their right to work in the UK.

The company is opposed to all forms of discrimination and will select for employment, training and promotion on the basis of suitability for the job and/ or merit. It is company policy that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, race, colour, age, ethnic or national origins, political affiliations, religious beliefs, marital status, physical disability or is disadvantaged by unjustifiable conditions or requirements.

Notice to Agency and Search Firm Representatives:

Vital Energi Utilities Ltd is not accepting unsolicited CVs from agencies and/or search firms for this job posting. CVs submitted to any Vital Energi Utilities Ltd employee by a third-party agency and/or search firm without a valid written & signed search agreement, will become the sole property of Vital Energi Utilities Ltd. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired for this position as a result of an unsolicited agency or search firm referral. Thank you.