Department: Operations

Location: Colwick

Night Shift Supervisor Role in a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF)

A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is a specialized recycling plant where mixed recyclable materials (such as paper, plastics, metals, and glass) are sorted, processed, and prepared for sale to manufacturers. Operations often run multiple shifts, including nights, to handle high volumes of incoming waste.

The night shift supervisor oversees operations during overnight hours, ensuring efficient sorting, safety compliance, and productivity when day management may be limited. This role combines general shift supervision with MRF-specific tasks like managing conveyor lines, balers, and material quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Staff Supervision and Training: Lead a team of sorters, equipment operators, and labourers (typically 20-30 people per shift). Assign tasks, monitor performance, provide on-the-job training, and enforce proper sorting techniques to maximize recovery rates.
• Safety and Compliance: Prioritize safety in a hazardous environment (conveyors, heavy machinery, potential contaminants). Conduct safety briefings, ensure use of personal protective equipment (PPE), identify hazards (e.g., fire risks from clutter), and comply with OSHA and environmental regulations.
• Operational Oversight: Monitor sorting lines, optical sorters, eddy currents, balers, and other equipment. Troubleshoot minor issues, coordinate with maintenance for repairs, and ensure smooth material flow to meet production targets.
• Quality Control: Oversee material separation to minimize contamination. Perform or direct inspections, sampling, and adjustments to maintain high-quality bales/output for market specifications.
• Facility Maintenance and Cleanliness: Ensure the plant is clean and organized at shift end (e.g., clear debris to prevent fires or jams). Perform or schedule basic upkeep on equipment like conveyors and compressors.
• Reporting and Communication: Document shift production, incidents, equipment issues, and inventory. Prepare handover reports for the day shift and communicate with management on shortfalls or improvements.
• Productivity and Efficiency: Track metrics like throughput and recovery rates. Motivate the team to meet goals, handle staffing shortages, and resolve issues independently during off-hours.