Plant Operator, Riverside

Cory is one of the UK’s leading waste management and recycling companies. We operate one of the largest energy from waste facilities in the United Kingdom, with a unique river‑based infrastructure on the Thames for delivering waste. Cory’s decarbonisation strategy is centred around creating a decarbonisation hub at its Riverside site which uses carbon capture and storage to decarbonise waste from local communities and reuses the energy extracted from this waste to power heat networks and provide baseload electricity. Riverside 2 will be operational later this year. It will be one of the largest and most efficient EfW facilities in the UK, processing 650,000 tonnes of non‑recyclable waste generating enough electricity to power 176,000 homes each year. Together, the two facilities will divert around 1.4 million tonnes of waste from landfill each year.

Summary of Role

Cory is recruiting for the position of Plant Operator at our Energy from Waste Facility in Belvedere Kent. The role involves ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the energy‑from‑waste facility under the direction of the Shift Team Leader (STL). Responsibilities include managing plant operations during various states (steady, start‑up, shutdown, emergency) from the Control Room, ensuring compliance with the environmental permit, conducting routine inspections, and recording plant data. The position also involves diagnosing and rectifying faults, maintaining operation logs, ensuring safety compliance, assisting in investigations, and performing specific duties in emergencies. This role requires working 12‑hour shifts, including nights and bank holidays, and participating in ongoing personal development.

Responsibilities

• Acting under the direction of the Shift Team Leader (STL), ensure safe and efficient operation of all activities on the energy from waste facility.
• Operation of the plant during steady state, start up, shutdown and emergency situations and as directed by the STL, from the Control Room and as required by the operational demands of the plant.
• Ensure day to day compliance with all aspects of the Environmental Permit, reporting any non‑compliance or incident to the STL.
• Carry out routine plant inspections and adjustments/operations as required, collecting, and recording plant data.
• Work in compliance with the company’s Health & Safety, Quality and Environmental Management System and all relevant legislation.
• Carry out first line process diagnostics, fault finding and defect rectification in conjunction with the STL and technical staff.
• Maintain an accurate log of facility operations, activities, and events, reporting high level information to the STL.
• Carry out the duties of Authorised Person and Nominated Supervisor within the company safety rules and ensure compliance by all staff, contractors, and visitors.
• Assist in incident and accident investigations, as requested by a STL.
• Carry out specific duties during emergency situations.
• Undertake continuing personal development to enhance knowledge & skills relevant to the role.
• Carry out other reasonable tasks and duties as requested by management.

Other Duties

• Assisting the Permit Office to deliver outages and projects alongside other EfW departments, safely and within agreed times and budgets.
• Reporting and rectifying where possible, any HSE concerns on site, to the duty Shift Team Leader.
• Developing and reviewing operational work procedures and risk assessments.
• Carrying out operational routines associated with the operation of the facility.
• Attend training courses in conjunction with the departmental training matrix.
• The Plant Operator may also be expected to provide cover for the Assistant Plant Operator role if required.

Job Requirements

• Educated to GSCE or equivalent.
• Technical Qualification in an Engineering/Operational Discipline (NVQ/ONC/HNC).
• Safety Rules Training.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Authorised Person to carry out mechanical and LV (Low Voltage) isolations (min 3 years).
• Experience in EfW Plants (or similar industry).
• Ability to read and interrogate P&IDs and SLDs.
• Familiar with PTW systems.
• Literate in MS Office.

Other Requirements

• Team player.
• Flexible.
• Self‑motivated.
• Be prepared to work additional hours if required.
• Ability to work safely at heights.
• Valid driving licence.

Cory is an inclusive workplace for people of all backgrounds and walks of life. As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we actively encourage job applications from veterans and reservists, to whom we will provide additional assistance when needed.