Assistant Plant Manager

The Assistant Plant Manager supports the safe, efficient, and compliant operation of the Tyrone Energy biomass / waste-to-energy facility. Working closely with the Plant Manager, the role focuses on day-to-day operational delivery, maintenance planning, and people supervision to ensure plant performance, safety, and environmental standards are consistently achieved. This is a hands-on operational leadership role, suited to an experienced plant or maintenance professional ready to step into a site leadership position while remaining close to the plant and equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Operations & Team Support
  • Support the Plant Manager in the day-to-day running of the facility, ensuring safe and efficient operations at all times.
  • Assist with workforce planning, shift coverage, and supervision of site personnel.
  • Act as a point of contact for operational issues during shifts, escalating where required.
  • Lead by example on site, promoting strong standards of safety, discipline, and performance.
• Maintenance & Reliability
  • Support the planning, coordination, and execution of preventative maintenance activities across the plant.
  • Assist in creating, maintaining, and monitoring planned maintenance (PM) schedules to maximise plant availability.
  • Oversee critical spares management, stock levels, and stocktaking activities.
  • Work with maintenance teams and contractors to ensure work is completed safely, efficiently, and to required standards.
  • Update and maintain records within the CMMS system, ensuring accurate tracking of maintenance activity and defects.
• Projects & Continuous Improvement
  • Support plant improvement projects, shutdowns, and maintenance campaigns, assisting with planning, scheduling, and delivery.
  • Coordinate resources and contractors for assigned projects, ensuring timelines and safety requirements are met.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with company health & safety policies, procedures, and safe systems of work.
  • Actively promote a safety-first culture and challenge unsafe behaviours.
  • Support compliance with environmental operating permits and regulatory requirements.
  • Assist with audits, inspections, and investigations, ensuring actions are closed out effectively.

About You

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience in an operational or maintenance role within a heavy industrial, energy, or processing environment.
• Proven hands‑on maintenance background working with heavy plant or machinery.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and prioritise work effectively.
• Confident communicator, able to supervise teams and coordinate contractors on site.
• Proactive, self‑motivated, and able to work on own initiative while supporting site leadership.

Desirable Experience

• Practical experience in biomass, waste‑to‑energy, or similar process‑driven environments.
• Working knowledge of CMMS maintenance management systems.
• Experience operating in safety‑critical and environmentally regulated environments.

About Us

We are Panda. We value waste. We’re in the business of waste management but that doesn’t just mean collecting bins. Behind every collection is a passionate team of people finding smarter, safer, and more sustainable ways to recycle and repurpose materials that would otherwise go to waste. Over the past 30 years, Panda has grown into a leading resource recovery business, bringing together almost 3,000 people across multiple brands, united by a shared vision and strong values. While our operations are diverse, our purpose is clear: to protect our people, support our customers, and create positive impact for the communities and environments we serve.

At Panda, people are at the heart of everything we do. We work as one team, combining different skills, experiences, and perspectives to achieve shared goals. We care for each other’s wellbeing, encourage development, and support growth because we know we’re stronger together. We expect excellence in how we operate. High standards, bold thinking, and continuous improvement drive our passion for innovation. We challenge the ordinary, put safety first, and embrace new ideas while delivering practical, cost‑effective solutions that move our business forward.

We own what we do. From day‑to‑day tasks to major projects, we take pride in our work and responsibility for the outcome. We don’t walk past problems; we address them together. Our expertise, reliability, and care reflect who we are and the difference we make. And above all, we act with trust and integrity. Trust is built through open communication, honesty, and accountability. It allows us to move quickly, make confident decisions, and deliver results — knowing our people are empowered to do the right thing. Our journey depends on talented, committed people who want to make an impact. Take the first step and join us on the journey.

Panda is committed to attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate and the people we serve.