Site Manager – Anaerobic Digestion

Recruitme (Grantham) Limited; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

5% employer pension contribution with/

Unum Life Assurance

Medicash Health Cash Plan

Benenden Health membership

Perkbox employee benefits

Holiday purchase option

Job summary

RecruitME on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, seeks an experienced AD Site Manager to lead an established anaerobic digestion and biomethane facility. You will guide the current team, maintain safe operation, and drive reliable performance at the site.

The role requires hands-on AD expertise, leadership capability, and a commitment to safe, efficient plant operation; the position is site-based on the Isle of Sheppey.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in an anaerobic digestion plant is essential.
• Sound understanding of AD processes and plant equipment.
• Experience supervising operational teams or leading people.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to coach and develop colleagues.
• Proactive approach to health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Ability to organise workloads and coordinate maintenance activities.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of daily site operations with clear leadership and direction.
• Lead, motivate and develop the operational team to create a positive, accountable environment.
• Organise daily activities, allocate responsibilities and maintain high operational standards.
• Oversee anaerobic digestion processes, identifying and resolving production issues.
• Coach operators with regular feedback and performance development.
• Coordinate planned maintenance, reactive repairs and specialist contractors to minimise downtime.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Ensure the site operates within its environmental permit and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor plant performance and operating costs to identify improvements.
• Work closely with the Area Manager and wider support teams.
• Manage the out-of-hours call-out rota and provide cover when required.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Health & safety

AD processes

Troubleshooting

Job description

Isle of Sheppey, Kent | Up to £60,000 | Permanent | 37.5 hours per week. Know anaerobic digestion inside out and ready to take the next step in your career? RecruitME is recruiting an AD Site Manager for an established renewable energy business operating an anaerobic digestion and biomethane production facility on the Isle of Sheppey. This is an opportunity to take responsibility for an established AD plant, with your main priority being to lead, support and develop the existing team of operators, ensuring the facility continues to operate safely, reliably and efficiently. We are looking for someone with practical anaerobic digestion experience and the confidence to lead people. You could already be an AD Site Manager, or an experienced AD Operator, Senior Operator, Team Leader or Supervisor ready to step into a management position. Your understanding of anaerobic digestion operations is essential, but you do not need to have held a Site Manager title previously. What matters is your ability to lead by example, make sound operational decisions and get the best from your team.

The AD Site Manager role

• Reporting to the Area Manager, you will take ownership of daily site operations, providing clear leadership and direction to the existing team.
• Lead, motivate and develop the operational team, creating a positive, accountable and supportive working environment.
• Organise daily activities, allocate responsibilities and maintain high operational standards.
• Oversee anaerobic digestion processes, identifying and resolving production and performance issues.
• Support operators through coaching, training, regular feedback and performance development.
• Coordinate planned maintenance, reactive repairs and specialist contractors to minimise downtime.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety and environmental compliance.
• Ensure the site operates within its environmental permit and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Monitor plant performance, operational costs and budgets, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with the Area Manager and wider operational support teams.
• Manage the out-of-hours call-out rota and provide cover when required.

What we are looking for

• Previous hands-on experience working within an anaerobic digestion plant is essential.
• You will have a sound understanding of AD processes, plant equipment, operational challenges and the importance of maintaining stable biological and mechanical performance.
• Experience supervising, leading or supporting operational teams, or clear evidence that you are ready to take on that responsibility.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate, coach and develop colleagues.
• Confidence making operational decisions and resolving day-to-day plant issues.
• Good mechanical aptitude and practical fault-finding ability.
• A proactive approach to health, safety and environmental compliance.
• The ability to organise workloads, coordinate maintenance activities and communicate effectively.
• A hands-on leadership style, with the willingness to support the team when needed.
• Experience of biomethane-to-grid operations, CHP, environmental permits, PAS 110 or relevant IOSH, NEBOSH or COTC qualifications would be advantageous.

Salary and benefits

• Salary up to £60,000, depending on experience.
• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 5% employer pension contribution with salary sacrifice option.
• Unum Life Assurance.
• Medicash Health Cash Plan.
• Benenden Health membership.
• Perkbox employee benefits.
• Holiday purchase option after two full years.
• Option to carry over up to five days' annual leave, subject to company policy.

Ready to progress your AD career?

This could be an excellent next step for an experienced AD Operator, Senior Operator, AD Team Leader or AD Supervisor who understands how anaerobic digestion plants operate and is ready to take responsibility for leading a team. Equally, it would suit an established AD Site Manager who enjoys being close to daily operations and developing people. The position is fully site-based on the Isle of Sheppey, so you will need to be able to commute reliably and participate in out-of-hours arrangements.