General Manager - Severn Wye Biochar

General Manager - Severn Wye Biochar

The General Manager will lead Severn Wye Biochar to operational excellence and sustainable financial success. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of a rapidly emerging sector-producing renewable energy while actively capturing carbon and helping reshape how energy is generated in the UK.

Purpose of the Role

The General Manager will have overall responsibility for the successful operation, management, growth and reputation of the Severn Wye Biochar plant in Warrington. The role will ensure that the plant operates safely, efficiently and profitably, meets all statutory and accreditation requirements, and is recognised as a leading project within the biochar and carbon capture sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and day to day management of the biochar plant, ensuring safe, efficient and cost effective operation.
• Ensure full compliance with health and safety legislation, environmental permits, industry standards and all other relevant legal requirements.
• Develop, implement and maintain operational policies, procedures and performance standards.
• Monitor plant performance, production output and quality, ensuring the facility operates at full capacity.
• Recruit, manage and develop operational staff to support safe and efficient plant operations.
• Ensure all staff receive appropriate induction, training and ongoing support, particularly in relation to health and safety and operational best practice.
• Foster a positive safety culture and high performing team environment.
• Manage staff performance, wellbeing and development in line with organisational values and policies.
• Manage contracts with feedstock suppliers, service providers and offtakers, ensuring delivery to agreed quality standards, timescales and commercial terms.
• Identify and secure additional contracts and commercial opportunities where required to support plant performance and growth.
• Work with the Board of Directors to secure and maintain contracts for biochar sales, carbon credits and energy offtake.
• Work with the Board of Directors to achieve and maintain all required accreditations and certifications relating to the biochar plant, including carbon accreditation and biochar certification.
• Ensure robust monitoring, reporting and verification processes are in place to support accreditation, auditing and stakeholder confidence.
• Build strong partnerships and collaborative relationships within the biochar, carbon capture and wider low carbon sectors.
• Represent Severn Wye Biochar externally with partners, suppliers, offtakers, regulators and industry bodies.
• Promote the Severn Wye Biochar project to ensure it is recognised as a credible, high quality and innovative operator within the sector.
• Provide clear, accurate and timely reports to the Board of Directors on operational, financial, H&S and commercial performance.
• Support strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives in line with the organisation's objectives.

Person Specification

• Experience: Management experience in an operational, industrial or processing environment. Experience of managing staff, including recruitment, training and performance management. Demonstrable experience of contract management, including suppliers and customers/offtakers. Experience of working with senior stakeholders.
• Knowledge and Skills: Strong understanding of health and safety management systems and legal compliance. Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance operational performance, cost control and revenue generation. Excellent leadership and people management skills. Strong negotiation, communication and relationship building skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast moving and technically complex environment.
• Personal Attributes: Credible, confident and professional, able to represent the organisation externally. Proactive and solutions focused, with strong problem solving skills. High levels of integrity, accountability and attention to detail. Commitment to sustainability, environmental responsibility and continuous improvement. Experience in the biochar, carbon capture, renewable energy, waste, or environmental sectors. Experience of working with accreditation, certification or carbon credit schemes. Technical understanding of plant based or thermal processing technologies (e.g. pyrolysis). Experience of operating within a regulated environmental or industrial framework.

Equality

We are committed to improving the diversity of our team and therefore guarantee an interview to candidates from ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ or disabled communities who meet the essential job criteria, recognising that these are under represented at SevernWye. However, we will always appoint the candidate who best satisfies the job description and person specification.