Plant Operator

Job Title: Operator

Location: Blaise Biogas, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4PN

Salary: Competitive

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Working Hours / Pattern: 4 on 4 off, 12 hour shifts, half hour unpaid break

About Us:

Blaise Biogas are an anaerobic digestion plant, creating energy from waste. Taking food waste and turning it into digestate, whilst using the gas it produces to inject back to the grid and power homes.

About the role:

Blaise Biogas are looking for an Operator. An OP (Operator) on an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) site is responsible for monitoring and controlling the digestion process, ensuring that organic waste is processed safely and efficiently to produce biogas and digestate. Their duties include checking plant equipment, monitoring temperatures, pH levels, gas production and feedstock levels, loading waste materials, identifying faults and carrying out routine maintenance. They also maintain accurate operational records, follow health and safety and environmental procedures, and ensure the plant operates reliably while minimising downtime and environmental impact.

Responsibilities:

• Operate and monitor all areas of the AD plant, including waste reception, feedstock preparation, digestion, biogas handling, gas upgrading/CHP equipment and digestate systems.
• Receive, inspect and process feedstock in line with site acceptance criteria, reporting contamination or unsuitable materials.
• Monitor temperatures, pressures, levels, flow rates, gas production, alarms and other key process parameters.
• Adjust plant settings and feed rates within authorised limits to maintain stable and efficient digestion.
• Monitor biogas production, quality and process stability, identifying and reporting abnormal operating conditions.
• Safely operate pumps, conveyors, mixers, valves and other plant equipment, including mobile plant where trained and authorised.
• Complete routine start-up, shutdown, changeover, plant inspection and operational checks.
• Maintain accurate operational, production, feedstock, digestate and maintenance records.
• Identify and report equipment defects, process deviations, leaks, blockages and other operational issues promptly.
• Carry out routine preventative maintenance and basic equipment checks, supporting maintenance technicians and contractors with servicing and repairs.
• Maintain clean, tidy and safe working areas, tools and equipment.
• Follow company health and safety requirements, risk assessments, safe systems of work, isolation and permit-to-work procedures.
• Follow appropriate safety procedures when working around biogas, methane, hydrogen sulphide, confined spaces, hazardous substances and potentially explosive atmospheres.
• Report accidents, near misses, unsafe conditions and environmental incidents promptly.
• Support compliance with environmental permits, waste management requirements and site operating procedures, including preventing and reporting spills, leaks and uncontrolled emissions.
• Support the safe storage, handling and transfer of digestate.
• Participate in emergency response arrangements, drills and safety briefings.
• Communicate operational issues and shift handovers clearly and accurately.
• Assist with sampling and routine process checks.
• Contribute to improvements in plant safety, reliability, efficiency, biogas yield and housekeeping standards.
• Complete required training and maintain relevant operational competencies.

About you:

Essentials:

• A practical, hands-on approach to plant operation and maintenance.
• Good awareness of health and safety requirements in an industrial environment.
• Ability to follow operating procedures and work instructions accurately.
• Good communication, record-keeping and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify abnormal operating conditions and escalate issues appropriately.
• Basic mechanical and process awareness.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desirable:

• Previous experience operating an anaerobic digestion plant, biogas facility, wastewater treatment plant, energy-from-waste facility or similar industrial process plant.
• Knowledge of anaerobic digestion processes, biogas production and digestate management.
• Experience using SCADA systems, PLC-controlled equipment or computerised maintenance systems.
• Experience with pumps, motors, conveyors, valves and process instrumentation.
• A relevant technical qualification in engineering, process operations or a related discipline.
• Relevant plant operation licences or training, such as forklift or loading shovel certification.

Benefits:

• Life Insurance with access to GP24
• Commitment to wellbeing through Employee Assistance Programme
• Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme for eligible employees
• Cycle to work scheme
• Company Events
• GymFlex salary sacrifice

Please click on the APPLY button to send your CV for this role.

Overseas candidates will NOT be considered for this role. We are not sponsoring Visa's at this time, so please refrain from applying unless eligible to work in the UK.

Candidates with experience or relevant job titles of: Anaerobic Digestion Plant Operator, AD Plant Operator, Plant Operations Coordinator, Waste Process Operator, AD Plant Operative may also be considered for this role