Environmental Specialist 1 in Whittlesey

In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.

About the role. The Resource Efficient Operations Co-Ordinator is integral to ensuring that McCain’s facilities function in a responsible and sustainable manner. This role is dedicated to maintaining compliance with environmental laws and regulations while advancing McCain’s broader sustainability objectives. With oversight of regional environmental systems, performance metrics, and reporting processes, the position assists the sites and Group Energy Manager in minimising environmental impact, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering environmental awareness within the organisation. The core emphasis is on achieving tangible outcomes—upholding compliance, realising measurable improvements in sustainability, and ingraining responsible environmental practices into routine plant operations.

What you’ll be doing:

• Ensure legal and corporate compliance by supporting the development and maintenance of Environmental Management Systems, upholding all processes, permits, and regulatory standards.
• Enhance environmental performance by managing and continuously improving environmental and energy systems in line with ISO 14001 and ISO 50001, including facilitating audits, leading incident investigations and corrective actions, and coaching leaders and SHE representatives to embed best practices.
• Advance McCain's local sustainability objectives by implementing resource efficiency initiatives — minimising waste, energy, and water consumption — while aligning operational activities with global sustainability targets and continuous improvement programmes.
• Provide effective governance by developing, communicating, and maintaining environmental policies, procedures, and standards to ensure consistent application of best practices across the site.
• Achieve positive external audit outcomes by coordinating inspections, ensuring site preparedness, and promptly addressing findings and recommendations.
• Enable informed decision-making by compiling and presenting accurate, timely KPI reports that provide insights into site environmental performance and emerging trends.
• Support operational growth by providing expert environmental input into new equipment installations, process optimisations, and site expansion projects.
• Protect resources and maintain compliance tools through the procurement and management of consumables and equipment required for environmental safeguarding.
• Contribute to compliance with relevant legislation, including ESOS, UK ETS, Climate Change Agreements (CCA), and Renewable Obligations.

What you’ll need to be successful:

• A degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a closely related field. (Preferred) or equivalent experience.
• Possession of the NEBOSH Environmental Certificate or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Demonstrable experience with environmental management systems—such as ISO 14001 and ISO 50001—within the Food Manufacturing, manufacturing, or comparable industries.
• Thorough understanding of UK environmental regulations, permitting procedures, and compliance obligations.
• A proven track record of achieving measurable sustainability performance improvements.
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and SharePoint.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, produce meaningful reports, and recommend appropriate actions.

Benefits of the role:

• An excellent pension where we will pay double what you do, up to a maximum of 12% of your pay.
• 25 days annual leave – including bank holidays.
• Single private health care.
• Flexible holidays – where you can buy & sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
• Optional health cash plan.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• ‘Chips In’ Volunteering Day Off - to make a positive impact to the competitiveness, resilience, and long-term development of McCain communities across the globe.

Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We’re big believers in the power of working together in person—it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.

About the team. Based at our Whittlesey plant in Peterborough, one of the largest sites in our GB business, you'll join a team focused on driving resource efficiency and sustainability across operations. Reporting to the Global Manager of Resource Efficient Operations, you'll work closely with colleagues across Manufacturing, Engineering and Environmental teams to reduce waste, optimise resources and support continuous improvement initiatives that make a real impact.

About McCain. Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.

Leadership principles. At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.

The McCain experience. We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you’ll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we’re better together.

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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