BOSS Energy Consulting
Plant Operations Manager
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Plant Operations Manager - Cambridge area
Site-based, 5 days/week
A venture-backed industrial technology business is hiring a Plant Operations Manager to lead operations at its first industrial pilot plant. The company is moving from an early-stage R&D start-up into a product-offering, revenue-generating business.
The role
You'll be the senior-most person on site — overseeing operations, personnel, troubleshooting, and HSE. Two direct reports, plus 2–3 rotating colleagues. You'll also be the face of the company on site, so this is an outward-facing role as well as an operational one.
Inheriting the modules built by the delivery team, you'll manage the operational requirements of the pilot plant experimental plan and learn how to optimise the technology for best-in-class operation.
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The first major piece of work is a planned upgrade — decommissioning and replacing half the plant's assets, with successful integration in 2026. Beyond that: run the site as a centre of excellence and R&D, with continuous long-term operation as the key metric.
Reports to the CTO. Occasional UK travel to suppliers and fabricators.
What we need
- 10+ years in chemical or process industry operations
- NEBOSH accreditation (essential)
- Experience with reliability of electrical equipment in a plant environment
- Fluids-based chemical processes — water treatment, food and beverage, or similar
- Extensive commissioning and start-up experience across a variety of process plants
- Experience leading teams in challenging environments
- Mechanical or process qualification — HNC or degree
- Strong hands-on mentality — willing to step onto the shop floor to troubleshoot
- Ideally, you'll also have familiarity with P&IDs and PFDs; HAZID experience; work with absorption, scrubbing, continuous gas-liquid systems or electrodialysis; experience running R&D pilot facilities.
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Why this role
- New technology
- A nimble team that can make decisions
- Real client-facing exposure
- A chance to become a subject-matter expert in skills that are in high demand
Process
- Four to six weeks
- Application review → interview with the operations team and functional lead → short case assignment and site visit → final interview
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