Operations Manager in England

Our Business

px PEOPLE, their commitment to excellence, innovation and teamwork, are the reason for px Group’s continuing growth and success story. We aim to be the elite provider of operations management, engineering services and energy management solutions in high hazard, highly regulated industries nationally and as we grow, across Europe and globally.

px Group has been awarded a major Operations, Engineering and Maintenance (OE&M) contract by NZT Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP). This work will support two major regional projects:

• NZT Power’s carbon capture plant
• NEP’s onshore compression facilities

Over the initial five-year term, px Group will deliver the OE&M requirements of the Operational Readiness phase, supporting commissioning and managing the handover from the Joint Venture project teams into full operations.

The Opportunity

We are now recruiting for an Operations Manager for NZT. The Operations Manager will be accountable for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the NZT plant, ensuring delivery of production, reliability, and performance targets in line with regulatory, client, and px Group requirements. You’ll be supported with personalised on the job training, coaching, mentoring and twice-yearly development and performance reviews to help maintain & develop your contributions and competence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Operations team, including shift teams, ensuring safe, efficient, and compliant plant operation.
• Support Operational Readiness and commissioning activities, ensuring operational systems, procedures, and competencies are established ahead of start-up.
• Develop and implement operational processes, procedures (Level 3), and ways of working aligned to px Group Operating Standards and regulatory requirements.
• Establish, implement, and govern Safe Systems of Work (SSoW), including permit to work, isolations, and Safe Working Practices (SWP), ensuring effective control of all operational and maintenance activities.
• Define and manage operational authorisations, including appointment of competent and authorised persons (e.g. SAP/AP roles where applicable), ensuring clear delegation of responsibilities and control of plant status.
• Ensure robust application of control of work processes, including SIMOPS management, risk assessment, and hazard control.

More responsibilities can be found on the Role Profile.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Process, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in power generation or similar process industries.
• Proven experience managing operations within a COMAH or major hazard environment.
• Strong understanding of process safety management, control of work, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing Safe Systems of Work, permit to work systems, and operational authorisation frameworks.
• Experience leading operational teams within a 24/7 shift environment.
• Demonstrable experience in plant commissioning, start-up, and transition to operations.
• Experience in production management, performance optimisation, and loss analysis.
• Strong understanding of defect management and risk management processes.
• Experience managing operational budgets and cost performance.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Contribution towards eye test and glasses
• Online company discount benefits site including cinema tickets and gym membership discount
• Long Service Awards
• Employee recognition scheme – ELITE Awards
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible Benefits Package
• Onsite parking

We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Please note this role may close early or be extended depending on the volume of applications.