Plant Operator
Salary: Circa £45,000 per annum (inclusive of shift allowance + annual bonus scheme)
Location: South London / Surrey Borders (easily accessible from Sutton, Croydon, and surrounding areas)
Hours: 40 hours per week (5-week rolling rota - 12-hour Days & Nights, 06:00 - 18:00 / 18:00 - 06:00)
Position Type: Full-time, Permanent
About the Business
Our client is a market-leading UK environmental and resource recovery organisation at the forefront of sustainable energy generation. Operating state-of-the-art infrastructure across the UK, they transform waste into sustainable energy resources to support the nation's climate-positive goals.
Following major investment, the business is continuing to expand its core operational portfolio and is seeking a practical, safety-conscious Auxiliary Plant Operator to join a highly skilled shift team at their heavy process facility in South London.
The Role
Working as an integral member of a close-knit operational shift team, you will ensure the facility operates safely, efficiently, and reliably. Reporting to the Shift Lead, you will monitor plant performance across heavy process equipment, perform frontline maintenance, and operate site machinery to maximize plant availability.
Key Responsibilities:
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Perform routine plant walk-rounds, monitoring heavy machinery, boiler plant, and auxiliary process systems.
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Carry out frontline maintenance, basic troubleshooting, and support planned shutdown activities to minimize downtime.
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Safely handle, unload, and supervise site consumables (including lime, carbon, ammonia, and gas oil).
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Operate site mobile plant, overhead travelling cranes, and weighbridges as required.
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Maintain clear digital shift logs, complete safe shift handovers, and adhere strictly to Safe Systems of Work (SSoW) and permit-to-work procedures.
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Provide on-call cover on designated days within the rota structure.
What We Are Looking For
Essential:
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Proven operational experience within a continuous process, heavy manufacturing, energy, chemical, or utilities environment.
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Hands-on experience monitoring process machinery and operating mobile plant.
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Practical, safety-first mindset with an understanding of Safe Systems of Work.
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Good written, verbal, and basic IT skills (Microsoft Office).
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Full UK Driving Licence.
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Comfortable working a 12-hour day/night rotational shift pattern.
Desirable (Not Essential):
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Background in Energy-from-Waste (EfW), heavy process, or thermal treatment facilities.
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Exposure to plant isolations, permit-to-work systems, or CMMS maintenance software.
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Tickets or certifications for Forklift (FLT), Overhead Crane, MEWP, or Working at Height.
What's on Offer
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Competitive Package: Circa £45k earnings (base salary + shift allowance + annual performance bonus).
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Comprehensive Benefits: Generous pension scheme, health & wellbeing initiatives, and local site perks.
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Training & Progression: Structured upskilling in specialist process machinery, safety systems, and plant tickets with clear paths into senior technician or shift management roles.
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Job Security: Essential green-sector infrastructure position providing long-term career stability.
Randstad CPE values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are more than happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.
Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.
Plant operator in South Croydon employer: Randstad Construction & Property Careers
As a leading employer in the marine civil engineering sector, we offer our Site Managers a dynamic work environment at a regional port, where every day presents new challenges and opportunities for professional growth. Our commitment to employee development is reflected in our comprehensive training programmes and supportive work culture, ensuring that you can thrive while contributing to impactful projects in a live maritime facility. With competitive rates and a focus on safety and innovation, we provide a rewarding career path for those looking to make a difference in the industry.
Contact Details:
Randstad Construction & Property Careers Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Plant operator in South Croydon
✨Join Construction Networks
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✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
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✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
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Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Randstad Construction & Property Careers
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
