Technical Improvement Lead - Waste Processing / Recycling

Ambitions Personnel; Whittlesey; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Technical Improvement Lead in Whittlesey, Peterborough. This role focuses on driving efficiency and plant performance in the waste processing sector. Ideal candidates will have a background in process engineering, with advanced Excel skills and experience in technical improvement methodologies. The position offers competitive pay and the chance to work with cutting-edge recovery technologies.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunity to work with market-leading recovery technology

Qualifications

• Experience in technical/process improvement, preferably in waste processing or recycling.
• Knowledge of eddy current separation and material recovery.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other CI methodologies desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects to optimize metal recovery and plant throughput.
• Analyze operational data, identify trends, and produce actionable reports.
• Collaborate on technical troubleshooting to improve equipment reliability.

Skills

Technical/process improvement

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Analytical and problem-solving abilities

Excellent communication skills

Tools

Power Query

VBA/macros

Data visualisation

Job description

echnical Improvement Lead – Waste Processing / Recycling
Whittlesey, Peterborough | Permanent, Full-time

Permanent Job - £35,000 - £40,000 pa

We’re working with a leading player in the waste-to-resource sector who are looking to appoint a Technical Improvement Lead to join their high-performing operations team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a process engineering or continuous improvement background to make a tangible impact on efficiency, recovery rates, and plant performance.

The Company
Our client operates one of the UK’s most advanced incinerator bottom ash (IBA) treatment facilities. Handling up to 250,000 tonnes of material per year, the site recovers valuable metals for reuse, with the balance going into the aggregates market. Safety, sustainability, and continuous improvement are at the core of their operation.

The Role

The Technical Improvement Lead will work closely with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to identify performance gaps, analyse data, and implement technical improvements across the plant. This is a hands-on, problem-solving role for someone who enjoys using data to drive change and seeing measurable results on the shop floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects to optimise metal recovery and plant throughput.
• Analyse operational data, identify trends, and produce actionable reports (advanced Excel skills essential).
• Collaborate on technical troubleshooting to improve equipment reliability and efficiency.
• Manage improvement initiatives from concept to completion, including process trials and equipment upgrades.
• Develop and track KPIs on recovery efficiency, downtime, and yield.
• Provide training and guidance to teams on new processes and improvements.

About You

• Experience in technical/process improvement (waste processing or recycling advantageous).
• Knowledge of eddy current separation and material recovery from IBA or similar streams.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (Power Query, VBA/macros, pivot tables, data visualisation).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across all levels of the business.
• Experience of Lean, Six Sigma, or other CI methodologies desirable.

What’s On Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work with market-leading recovery technology.
• A role where your improvements directly impact performance and sustainability.

Give me a call on 07810 022392 / 01636 611320…… happy to take calls after 5pm or What’s app me and I’ll call you back!

Email me at [e-mail].

LinkedIn Jo Botton – drop me a message if that's easier.

Don't worry about having an up to date CV, we can sort that out later.

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