Heidelberg Materials UK (formerly Hanson UK) is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of construction materials, employing over 4,000 people and operating around 300 manufacturing sites in the UK.

We are committed to building a more sustainable future and recognise that a diverse workforce is vital to our growth and advancement. We aim to promote a culture that values openness, transparency and individual achievement.

At the centre of our actions lies the responsibility for the environment. As the front runner on the path to carbon neutrality and circular economy in the building materials industry, we are working on sustainable building materials and solutions for the future. We enable new opportunities for our customers through digitalisation.

Carbon Capture & Storage Plant Manager

Padeswood, North Wales | £100,000+ + bonus + benefits + Car

This isn’t an opportunity to take over an established plant. It’s an opportunity to help create one.

At Padeswood, North Wales, we’re constructing the UK’s first carbon capture plant to support the production of decarbonised cement. Designed to capture around 95% of the site’s CO₂ emissions, approximately 800,000 tonnes a year, this is engineering on a scale that will help shape the future of our industry and support the production of evoZero near-zero cement. We’re looking for an experienced leader to become our Carbon Capture & Storage Plant Manager, taking end-to-end operational leadership of the carbon capture unit and its dedicated Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant.

This is an opportunity to be part of the project before the plant reaches steady-state operation, helping take it through design assurance, construction readiness, organisational build-up, commissioning, start-up and ramp-up, before leading its safe, reliable and cost-effective operation.

What makes this opportunity different?

You’ll build the team, establish the operating standards and systems, and create the culture needed to successfully operate a complex, safety-critical carbon capture facility. From the outset, you’ll have the opportunity to influence how the plant operates, how the team works and what operational excellence looks like. And this is just the start.

The role

As Plant Manager, you’ll have operational leadership and management responsibility across operations, maintenance and technical support for the carbon capture unit and its dedicated CHP plant, fully integrated with Padeswood cement plant. You’ll be accountable for ensuring the operation is safe, legally compliant, reliable and cost-effective, while protecting the continuity and performance of the existing cement manufacturing process.

• Play a key operational leadership role throughout commissioning and start-up, working alongside the Project Manager to ensure operational readiness and a seamless transition into safe, reliable 24/7 operation.
• Take overall accountability for safety, process safety, environmental performance, legal compliance and plant reliability.
• Build and lead the carbon capture organisation, establishing the team, capability, operating standards and high-performance culture needed to run the facility.
• Oversee the performance of the carbon capture process, CO₂ compression and export systems, CHP plant and associated utilities, ensuring operational and CO₂ quality targets are achieved.
• Work closely with the existing Padeswood cement operation, ensuring the two facilities operate effectively together and minimising disruption to production.
• Drive reliability, efficiency and continuous improvement, from energy and solvent consumption through to plant performance, maintenance and operating cost.
• Own operational budgets, contracts and performance, with a clear focus on cost per tonne of CO₂ captured and transferred.
• Act as the senior operational interface with the project team, technology partners, contractors, OEMs, regulators and Transport & Storage operator.

It’s a role with genuine authority and accountability. You’ll have the ability to stop or restrict operations where safety, environmental, compliance, quality or asset-integrity standards aren’t met.

You’ll ensure the capture, conditioning and transfer of CO₂ meets the required safety, environmental, capture, product-quality, availability, efficiency and cost objectives.

Just as importantly, you’ll create a culture where people take ownership.

You’ll lead employees and contractors with a clear focus on accountability, operational discipline, continuous improvement and high performance, establishing the standards and behaviours that will define the plant from day one.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for an established leader who understands the demands of leading complex, safety-critical industrial operations.

You’ll need the credibility to operate at senior level while remaining close enough to the plant, people and processes to drive operational excellence.

Above all, this opportunity is for someone who wants to build something, not simply manage what already exists.

You will have the chance to play a key operational role through commissioning and start up, before taking responsibility for the ongoing operation of one of the UK's most significant industrial decarbonisation project's, building a team and operation that will play an important part in the future of cement manufacturing

Why Join us?

At Heidelberg Materials, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. As a global leader in construction materials, we’re committed to innovation, sustainability, and, above all, our people.

Rewards & Benefits We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice, with accreditations including:

• Armed Forces Covenant (Gold) | Disability Confident | 5% Club (Platinum) | Mates in Mind | Clear Assured | STEM Ambassador | MPQC Member
• Competitive Package: Salary, bonus incentives, generous pension, and life assurance
• Work-Life Balance: 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays), agile/flexible working, holiday purchase, and sabbatical options, Season and travel ticket loans
• Family-Friendly Policies: Enhanced support for maternity, paternity, adoption, IVF, neonatal care, and menopause
• Inclusive Culture: Paid volunteering day and active employee communities (LGBTQ+, Women in STEM, Armed Forces, and more)
• Wellbeing & Development: Employee Assistance Programme, retail discounts, and continuous learning opportunities