Recycling Maintenance Supervisor

Role Overview

You will take full ownership of the day-to-day running of our recycling and sorting operation, leading a team of sorting and baling staff through every shift. Your focus is on keeping material flows moving smoothly from incoming waste through mixed waste sorting, plastic and glass separation, pig food preparation, and baling, while hitting quality, safety, and productivity targets. This role matters because every decision you make on the floor directly affects output quality, equipment uptime, and our ability to turn untapped waste streams into valuable resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the recycling workforce across all sorting lines, assigning daily tasks, managing attendance, and stepping in to resolve bottlenecks during peak loads.
• Enforce strict quality control checkpoints on all sorted fractions so the output consistently meets both internal specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Plan shifts and staff coverage around incoming material volumes, ensuring each line is adequately resourced without overstaffing.
• Coordinate forklift scheduling and utilisation, making sure equipment and operators are available where needed for feeding lines, moving bales, and clearing finished stock.
• Run regular equipment inspections and audits, flagging maintenance needs early and working with engineering on repairs, upgrades, or new installations.
• Track and report on productivity, efficiency, OEE, and other performance metrics, using the data to adjust process parameters and reduce downtime.
• Manage petty cash requests and follow through on approvals and payments for operational supplies, while keeping inventory levels of consumables and materials aligned with logistics movements.
• Research new recycling opportunities and evaluate how existing or new machinery can handle material streams that are currently not recovered.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, environmental science, or a closely related technical field.
• At least 3–5 years of hands-on supervisory experience in a manufacturing, processing, or recycling environment, specifically leading maintenance or operations teams.
• Demonstrated ability to implement process control systems and standard operating procedures in a fast-paced production setting.
• Strong working knowledge of sorting equipment, baling machinery, and material handling systems, including the ability to identify efficiency losses and propose fixes.
• Experience applying data to decision-making, including building reports on productivity, quality, and downtime, and using those insights to drive continuous process improvement.
• Solid understanding of health and safety regulations in an industrial environment, with a track record of enforcing safe work practices and maintaining a clean, hazard-free workplace.
• Good communication and planning skills, capable of coordinating with logistics, engineering, and front-line staff to keep operations running without interruption.