Project Development Engineer (Recycling)

Process Improvement Engineer (PIE)

Salary: 42k + 17.5% Bonus + £500 Company Car Allowance

company car / car allowance, bonus and Veolia benefits 

Hours: 40 hours per week - 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday

Location: Home based with UK travel (Of which is not very often)

 Join us in this exciting role as process development engineer (Sorting and Recycling) in our London team.

Veolia operates around 15 sorting and recycling plants (assets) across the UK that receive hundreds of thousands of tonnes of recyclable material. Our facilities include Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) that sort dry mixed recyclables, Plastic Recovery (PRF) that sorts plastic, glass recycling and plastic recycling that produces recycled plastic material to offset the use of virgin material in the manufacturing of new packaging (such as our Dagenham plant that recycle the milk bottles) 

You will be joining our team who:

Develops very good understanding of the performance of our sorting and recycling assets in the UK, by liaising with the operations team and by tracking and analysing the mechanical performance of the assets periodically 

Maintains good understanding of the value chain of sorting and recycling assets in the UK

Supports the asset operation team by preparing asset performance reports and chairing a monthly asset performance improvement meeting

Identifies and evaluates improvement and optimisation initiatives for our sorting and recycling plants to deliver financial operational savings. 

Conducts performance tests for sorting and recycling technology including Artificial Intelligence (AI)) applications) by executing testing trials with the technology suppliers.

Develops concept process design solutions for the retrofit, upgrade and modernisation of our sorting and recycling assets. This includes concept process flow diagrams (PFD), mass flow, mass balance, storage capacities and layout.

Manage the development of concept business cases for growth projects (new sorting and recycling assets), including the development of the concept designs of the process.

Supports the business development and acquisition teams with due diligence and technical assumptions in financial models.

Develops and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the UK sorting and recycling asset performance by:

• Collaborating closely with the operations team

• Conducting regular analysis and tracking of mechanical asset performance

• Staying informed about the latest industry trends and technologies

Demonstrates expertise in the UK sorting and recycling industry’s value chain, including market dynamics and regulatory environment

Supports asset operation team by:

• Preparing detailed asset performance reports

• Chairing monthly asset performance improvement meetings

• Facilitating cross-functional communication to drive continuous improvement

Identifies, evaluates, and implements improvement and optimisation initiatives for sorting and recycling plants to enhance operational efficiency and deliver financial savings

Conducts rigorous performance tests for sorting and recycling technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, by:

• Designing and executing testing trials in collaboration with technology suppliers

• Analysing and reporting on test results to inform decision-making

Develops innovative concept process design solutions for retrofitting, upgrading, and modernising sorting and recycling assets, including:

• Creating concept process flow diagrams (PFD)

• Calculating mass flow and mass balance

• Determining optimal storage capacities

• Designing efficient layouts

Leads the development of concept business cases for growth projects (new sorting and recycling assets), encompassing:

• Concept process designs

• Financial projections and ROI analysis

• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

Provide expert technical support to business development and acquisition teams by:

• Conducting thorough due diligence on potential acquisitions or partnerships

• Developing and validating technical assumptions for financial models

• Offering insights on industry best practices and emerging technologies

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to overhaul the industry, or just do a good day’s work. We know that everyone here at Veolia can help us work alongside our communities, look after the environment in small and big ways, and contribute towards our inclusive culture.

What will you be doing?

Continuously monitor and analyse the performance of assigned sorting and recycling plants by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to maintain a comprehensive understanding of their operations.

Proactively identify, evaluate, and propose cost-effective initiatives to enhance plant performance, focusing on generating substantial financial savings.

Collaborate closely with plant operations teams and project delivery personnel to implement improvement initiatives, such as equipment upgrades, new machine installations, or optimization of existing machines settings. 

Negotiate superior performance guarantees with suppliers. Prepare, agree and conduct rigorous performance test procedure for sorting and recycling technologies to ensure successful implementation.

Actively support in the development of compelling business cases for new growth opportunities in the sorting and recycling sector (e.g., plastic and glass recycling).

Produce conceptual design for sorting and recycling plants, including process flow diagrams (PFDs), mass flow analyses, mass balance calculations, storage requirements calculations, and facility layouts. Gather insights from subject matter experts (within the team, operations and plants designers/builders) to validate proposals.

Coordinate the progression of technical designs by liaising with own team, operations and plants’ designers/builders

Conduct comprehensive cost and performance appraisals of sorting and recycling plants and individual machines to identify areas for improvement and optimisation.

Stay abreast of relevant industry regulations and environmental standards, providing support in the implementation of necessary changes to ensure compliance and best practices.

Produce high-quality, professional reports and presentations to effectively communicate findings, recommendations, and project outcomes to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

What are we looking for?

• Minimum of 4 years' experience in engineering (Mechanical, Process, Industrial, or Electrical) or waste management and recycling sector.

• Proven track record in developing feasibility studies and business cases for projects

• Demonstrated expertise in project planning, development, and management

• Very good experience in sorting and recycling processes or related industries (e.g., aggregates processing)

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on producing and presenting high-quality reports

• Advanced proficiency in data analysis and manipulation for generating complex reports

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail

• Proficiency in relevant software tools and technologies used in the industry

Our promise to you

Here at Veolia, we know that a genuinely good role goes both ways.

So alongside your salary or hourly pay, you’ll get 25 days of holiday alongside an extensive benefits package, which includes our market-leading pension and share scheme, alongside a range of employee discounts. Also to help you further, we provide mental health and financial support, so you can lean on us whenever you need to.

Apply today, so we can make a difference for generations to come. 

We know how important it is to be fully committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive place to work for every one of our colleagues. We are committed to ensuring that all job applicants and members of staff are treated equally, without discrimination because of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.

We therefore welcome and encourage all candidates who meet the minimum requirements to apply.