Thermal Plant Operator

Astute People; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking experienced Thermal Plant Operators for a 6-month contract on an Operational Gasification plant on the Isle of Wight. The role offers a day rate of £500 to £600 per day inside IR35. Ideal candidates must have proven Energy-from-Waste experience and a hands-on background as a Commissioning Operator. You will be responsible for optimizing equipment and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Qualifications

• Must have proven Energy-from-Waste (EfW) experience, ideally within gasification or thermal conversion technologies.
• Hands-on experience as a Commissioning Operator with live plant operations.
• Ability to monitor and optimize thermal gasification equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate, monitor, and optimize thermal gasification equipment for plant performance.
• Conduct routine inspections and adjust process parameters.
• Respond to operational incidents and maintain logs as per site protocols.

Skills

Energy-from-Waste experience

Commissioning Operator background

Operational experience in waste-to-energy

Process optimization

Monitoring emissions and compliance

First-line maintenance

Health and safety protocols knowledge

Job description

Astute's Power Team are currently recruiting for 2 Thermal Plant Operators to join the Operator on an Operational Gasification plant on the Isle of Wight for a 6 months contract.

The Thermal Plant Operator positions come with a day rate from £500.00 to £600.00 per day inside IR35 (PAYE).

Role responsibilities and key skills for the role:

• Must have proven Energy‑from‑Waste (EfW) experience, ideally within gasification, pyrolysis, or thermal conversion technologies.
• Hands‑on background as a Commissioning Operator, preferably with subsequent operational experience on a live waste‑to‑energy plant.
• Operate, monitor, and optimize thermal gasification equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous plant performance.
• Conduct routine inspections of boilers, gasifiers, feed systems, turbines, and auxiliary plant equipment to identify abnormalities or potential issues.
• Adjust process parameters, control systems, and fuel feed rates to maintain optimal combustion and syngas production.
• Perform first‑line maintenance and troubleshooting on mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems as required.
• Monitor emissions, process data, and environmental control systems to ensure compliance with local and national regulations.
• Respond to alarms, system deviations, and operational incidents, taking corrective actions to prevent downtime or safety risks.
• Maintain accurate operational logs, reports, and shift handover documentation in line with site procedures and regulatory expectations.
• Follow strict health, safety, and environmental protocols, including permit‑to‑work, lockout/tagout, and risk assessment processes.

Location, day rate and timeframe of the Thermal Plant Operator positions:

• IOW
• £500.00 to £600.00 per day (Inside IR35)
• Start date - December 2025

Astute People are acting as an employment business in relation to this vacancy. We do not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and comply with all relevant UK legislation. We encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Astute is also committed to the government's Disability Confident Employer initiative. We endeavour to get back to everyone, however, if you have not heard anything after 7 days, please consider your application unsuccessful.