Operations Director: Anaerobic Digestion

This is a hands‑on leadership role responsible for the day‑to‑day running of STL Energy’s Anaerobic Digester Plants. The plants operate continuously, so the role combines operational management, maintenance planning, and people leadership with genuine on‑the‑tools involvement when needed. The successful candidate will be the senior person on site, accountable for keeping the plant running safely, efficiently, and compliantly, while managing a team and a parts/spares budget.

Purpose of the Role

The Operations Director is responsible for plant performance, maintenance, workforce planning, and H&Scompliance for the site. This is not a solely desk‑based role: the postholder is expected to be on the plant daily, leading the team, diagnosing faults, coordinating contractors, and stepping in on emergency repairs alongside planning the maintenance schedule that prevents them. The role carries full accountability for site H&S and environmental compliance, including permit conditions and regulatory reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance & Plant Reliability

• Coordinate the planned preventative maintenance (PPM) schedule for all plant assets — CHP engines, GEU and CO2 liquefaction systems, pumps, mixers, gas handling and safety systems, feed and digestate handling equipment — ensuring servicing is planned, resourced, and completed on time.
• Lead the response to breakdowns and emergency repairs, including out‑of‑hours callouts, diagnosing faults quickly and coordinating the fastest safe route back to full operation.
• Manage relationships with equipment manufacturers, service contractors, and specialist engineers (CHP, electrical, gas safety, controls/SCADA), including negotiating service contracts and call‑out terms.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and asset history for all critical plant, supporting warranty claims, insurance requirements, and permit compliance.
• Identify recurring failure patterns and drive reliability improvements to reduce downtime and unplanned costs.

Spares & Parts Management

• Coordinate the spares inventory: set minimum stock levels for critical and long‑lead‑time parts, and ensure the right spares are on site to minimise downtime.
• Manage supplier relationships and raise purchase orders for parts, consumables, and specialist tools within budget.
• Balance stock‑holding costs against breakdown risk, and continuously review the critical spares list as plant and risk profile evolve.

Labour Management & Planning

• Manage the day‑to‑day work of the site teams, including shift/rota planning to ensure 24/7 cover and emergency response capability.
• Plan and allocate daily/weekly tasks across feedstock intake, plant monitoring, routine maintenance, and housekeeping.
• Manage holiday, absence, and overtime cover to keep the plant adequately staffed at all times.
• Recruit, induct, train, and develop site staff, and manage performance and conduct issues as they arise.
• Coordinate contractors and visiting engineers working on site, ensuring proper induction, permits to work, and supervision.

Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Implement and maintain the site H&S management system, including risk assessments, safe systems of work, and permits to work (confined space, hot work, working at height, isolation/LOTO), in coordination with the STL Health and Safety Director
• Ensure compliance with ATEX/DSEAR requirements given the plant's gas‑handling and explosive-
• Help the H&S Director to investigate accidents, near‑misses, and environmental incidents on site, complete RIDDOR reporting where required, and implement corrective actions.
• Implement and maintain environmental permit conditions on site, including feedstock intake records, digestate storage and spreading records, emissions monitoring, and odour management.
• Prepare and submit routine regulatory and permit‑related reports (e.g. to the Environment Agency/SEPA and HSE) and act as the site's day‑to‑day point of contact during inspections.
• Maintain the site's emergency response arrangements, including gas release, fire, and spillage procedures, and ensure the team is trained and drilled on them.
• Report site HSE performance, incidents, and compliance status to the H&S Director

Person Specification

• Proven experience managing or supervising a process, utilities, or industrial plant, ideally within anaerobic digestion, biogas, water/wastewater, or a comparable continuous‑process environment.
• Strong working knowledge of mechanical and electrical plant maintenance, including planning PPM schedules and managing breakdown response.
• Experience managing a small team, including shift planning and cover for a continuously operating site.
• Comfortable both planning at a management level and getting hands‑on with diagnosing and fixing plant issues.
• Full, clean UK driving licence and willingness to be part of an on‑call/emergency response rota.
• Strong record‑keeping and reporting discipline, with the ability to prepare clear compliance reports for regulators and senior management.
• Direct experience operating or maintaining anaerobic digestion or biogas plant, including CHP engines and gas safety systems.
• Recognised engineering or maintenance qualification (mechanical, electrical, or multi‑skilled).
• Experience managing spares inventory and supplier/contractor relationships in an industrial setting.

What We Offer

• A senior, highly autonomous role running your own site, with direct influence over how it's operated and maintained.
• A varied, hands‑on role combining leadership, technical problem‑solving, and compliance work.
• Competitive salary (75,000 - 120,000), commensurate with experience, plus vehicle.

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