Plant Manager – Plastics Recycling
Job description
About The Role
We’re looking for a Plant Manager to join us at our AO Plastics Recycling plant here in Telford. You’ll be leading operational and production laboratory teams (2 direct reports and around 30 colleagues in total), working within a matrix structure incorporating engineering, SHEQ, HR and Commercial functions.
AO is known as the destination for electricals, but we’re also one of the UK’s biggest recyclers of fridges and other Large Domestic Appliances (LDAs). We turn old fridges, washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers into valuable resources, and the plastics are sent to our plastics recycling plant, where you will be the leader on site.
Our plastics recycling plant is a unique design, audited to the highest European standards, and sets a new standard in creating single polymer plastics ready for use in new high-quality products, with our strategic aim to use the plastics in new appliances for sale on ao.com. Since 2018, AO has invested over £6 million in the plastics recycling plant, with projects in flight to enhance and extend the processes, supported by further multi-million-pound investment, with delivery across 2023 and into early 2024. This supports the strategy and continued growth of AO Recycling, all underpinned by the commitment and security of AO.
Here's What You Can Expect To Be Doing
- Reporting to the Director of Commercial, lead a robust and proven operational structure (running 24/5) and production laboratory, motivating and developing our people.
- Deliver our strategic objective to use the plastics in new appliances for sale on ao.com.
- Support commercial and business development/sales teams with key accounts, customers, and prospects across all operational facets, including quality and material specification.
- Promote a positive Health & Safety culture across the site.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, empowering colleagues to generate incremental changes, whilst supporting larger scale initiatives, which you will lead or be the business owner for.
- Be our subject matter expert on plastics separation, extrusion, moulding and consistency of output. Be able to understand how plant parameters and input variability impact plant KPI’s and be able to assess and explain complex issues simply to a broad range of colleagues and externally. Be able to then provide potential solutions for collaborative decision making.
- Plan and coordinate project work for the site, making sure we’re on track against schedules and budgets.
- Be AO’s plastics expert and face in UK and European forums on regulatory and legislative change.
A Few Things About You
We’re looking for someone who is knowledgeable in Plastics. Either an expert or someone with the ambition and drive to become an expert quickly.
- Experience working within a processing, manufacturing, or similar environment, ideally with a focus on plastics (separation, production, moulding or similar).
- A desire to learn about the machinery and equipment we use here at the AO Plastics Recycling Plant, and really understand it’s purpose, parameters, and outputs.
- Previous experience delivering continuous change and improvements across all facets of a production facility.
- Great communication and people skills - making sure everyone is working to their full potential, motivating others, and engaging people across the business.
- Proven track record of dealing effectively with operators, experts, senior leaders, and customers.
A Bit About Us
At AO, we want to make sure our customers are happy. When they have a smile on their face, we know we’ve done a good job. It’s at the heart of everything we do, and it’s why our logo is always smiling.
When it comes to appliances and electricals, we’ve got the lot. Washing machines? Yep. TVs? Check. Laptops? Absolutely. Everything except doorbells (just kidding, we’ve got those too).
We’re passionate, relentless and full of beans, determined to make a difference and change the world for the better. From massive changes to tiny tweaks - making a difference is what keeps us driven.It started at a pub in Bolton with a £1 bet and a belief that things could be done better!
Our Benefits
Our benefits are designed to cover the moments that matter to AO'ers. From health and wellness to giving back - you’ll be rewarded inside and outside of work.
- Car allowance
- 15% annual bonus
- Value Creation Plan - AO’s unique and life changing bonus scheme for all employees which matures in 2027
- 25 days holiday, growing with length of service
- Staff discount at ao.com & discounted gym offers
- 9% AO contributing Pension scheme
- Employee Assistance Programmes
- Career progression
