Plant Manager - Anaerobic Digestion (AD) in West Malling

Location: West Malling, Kent

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Hours: Monday to Friday / Out of hours required when necessary

About Us:

Envar is a producer and supplier of high quality soil improver, woodland garden mulch, wood chip and biomass. We operate green waste composting sites across England with sites in Surrey, Northamptonshire, West London, Essex, Kent and Suffolk as well as our flagship site in Cambridgeshire where we also process food waste. In addition to composting Envar also recycle coffee grounds.

About the role:

The AD Plant Manager is responsible for the safe, compliant and efficient operation of the anaerobic digestion facility. The role ensures maximum plant availability, biogas production, feedstock throughput and digestate quality whilst maintaining full compliance with environmental permits, health and safety legislation and company policies. The Plant Manager will lead operational teams, manage budgets, drive continuous improvement initiatives and ensure delivery of site performance targets.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the AD facility.
• Ensure feedstock reception, processing, digestion and digestate production operate efficiently.
• Maximise plant uptime and throughput.
• Monitor and improve biogas and biomethane production performance.
• Ensure all process and operational KPIs are achieved.
• Develop and implement operational procedures and best practices.
• Champion a positive health and safety culture.
• Ensure compliance with all company safety procedures.
• Manage risk assessments, safe systems of work and permit-to-work procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Environmental Permits, ABPR requirements and EA regulations.
• Lead site audits and inspections.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with all environmental conditions and regulatory requirements.
• Manage odour, noise, emissions and environmental monitoring programmes.
• Support permit variations and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Maintain excellent relationships with regulators and stakeholders.
• Monitor process biology and optimize digester performance.
• Review daily plant data and identify performance improvement opportunities.
• Manage feedstock mix to maximize gas yields and process stability.
• Oversee digestate quality and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with laboratory and technical teams.
• Work alongside the Operational Team to maintain asset reliability.
• Ensure preventative maintenance programmes through the CMMS system are followed.
• Minimize unplanned downtime.
• Manage contractor performance and engineering service providers.
• Manage site operational budgets.
• Control labor, maintenance, utility and consumable costs.
• Identify efficiency improvements to reduce operating costs.
• Support preparation of business cases and capital expenditure proposals.
• Lead, coach and develop site teams.
• Conduct performance reviews and training assessments.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and succession planning.
• Promote employee engagement and accountability.
• Build a culture of operational excellence.
• Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop operational KPIs and reporting systems.
• Analyze trends and implement corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to increase throughput, gas production and profitability.

About you:

Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Commercially aware.
• Practical problem solver.
• Significant operational management experience within AD, waste management, recycling, utilities, process manufacturing or energy generation.
• Strong understanding of biological treatment and anaerobic digestion processes.
• Knowledge of Environmental Permits and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing operational teams and contractors.
• Budget management experience.
• Full UK Driving License.

Desirable:

• Organized and resilient under pressure.
• Committed to safety and operational excellence.
• Continuous improvement mindset.
• Degree or HNC/HND in Engineering, Environmental Science, Process Engineering or similar.
• IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH qualification.
• WAMITAB qualification.
• Knowledge of CHP engines, gas upgrading and renewable energy systems.
• Experience of PAS110 and digestate compliance requirements.
• CMMS experience.

Benefits:

• Life Insurance with access to GP24
• Commitment to wellbeing through Employee Assistance Programme
• Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme for eligible employees
• Cycle to work scheme
• Company Events
• GymFlex salary sacrifice

Overseas candidates will NOT be considered for this role. We are not sponsoring Visa's at this time, so please refrain from applying unless eligible to work in the UK.