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Trainee Plant Manager
Location: Rye
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
An excellent opportunity has arisen for an ambitious Trainee Plant Manager to join a highly regulated operational site and progress into a full Plant Manager role within approximately 18 months to 2 years.
This role is ideal for a driven individual with experience in manufacturing or chemical processing environments who is looking to develop into a senior operational leadership position. Comprehensive training will be provided to support progression and competency development.
The Role
Reporting into the Production Manager, the Trainee Plant Manager will play a key role in supporting day-to-day production operations while developing the knowledge, skills, and leadership capability required to take full responsibility for site operations.
The role operates within a top-tier COMAH environment, requiring a strong focus on health, safety, environmental compliance, and continuous improvement.
You will work closely with production, logistics, engineering, laboratory, and business process teams to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the safe and efficient operation of production activities in line with health, safety, environmental, and quality standards
- Promote and embed a strong health and safety culture, ensuring audit-ready standards and excellent housekeeping
- Manage and develop operational teams through coaching, competency assessments, training, and performance management
- Assist with production planning, staffing levels, and shift coverage to meet operational and business requirements
- Monitor and improve production KPIs, including yields, efficiency, and downtime
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety, environmental performance, cost control, and productivity
- Ensure compliance with COMAH regulations, environmental permits, COSHH, DSEAR, and site operating procedures
- Issue and control Permit to Work activities, including hot work and confined space permits
- Support management of change (MoC) processes for equipment, procedural, and operational changes
- Oversee site testing, monitoring, emissions control, and effluent management
- Support investigations into incidents, near misses, customer complaints, and non-conformances
- Work closely with engineering teams during maintenance, commissioning, and plant modifications
- Maintain accurate production records, including batch data and system reporting
- Participate in site inspections, audits, and emergency response support when required
- Provide out-of-hours support to production teams as necessary
Skills and Experience Required
- Experience working in a manufacturing, processing, or chemical plant environment
- Previous experience managing or supervising operational teams
- Strong leadership, coaching, and communication skills
- A proactive and structured approach to problem-solving
- Ability to work under pressure in a regulated, safety-critical environment
- A strong interest in continuous improvement and operational excellence
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and manufacturing systems
- The ability to influence and engage teams at all levels
- Willingness to travel nationally or internationally on occasion to share best practice
