Ad Energy Recruitment

Dairy Operations Manager

AD Energy is partnering with a leading Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) business to recruit a Dairy Operations Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced operations leader to oversee off-site dairy operations that play a critical role in supplying feedstock to a large-scale anaerobic digestion facility.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, you'll be responsible for leading a small operations team while managing the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of manure collection and separation systems across multiple dairy farms. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll build strong relationships with farm owners, drive operational performance, and ensure equipment uptime across several sites.

The Role

As the Dairy Operations Manager, you'll oversee the day-to-day operation of dairy feedstock activities across six dairy farms, ensuring the highest standards of safety, reliability, and operational excellence.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, mentoring, and developing a team of Dairy Operators.
• Managing the safe and efficient operation of manure collection, separation, and feedstock handling equipment across multiple off-site dairy farms.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with farm owners and management, acting as the primary point of contact for operational coordination and responding to any concerns or requests.
• Monitoring operational KPIs, equipment performance, and feedstock quality to maximise plant efficiency.
• Developing, implementing, and continuously improving SOPs and standard working procedures.
• Coordinating transportation and logistics to support daily operations.
• Collecting and coordinating routine feedstock sampling for laboratory analysis.
• Raising and managing maintenance work orders through the CMMS while working closely with the maintenance team to minimise downtime.
• Supporting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Championing a strong safety-first culture and ensuring compliance with all environmental, health, and safety procedures, including LOTO, confined space entry, hot work, lifting operations, and working at height.
• Managing departmental budgets, resources, and operational performance.

About You

We're looking for a proactive leader who enjoys being out in the field, building relationships, and improving operational performance.

You'll ideally bring:

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Agriculture, Operations, or another relevant technical discipline (preferred).
• Five or more years of leadership experience within renewable energy, biogas/RNG, agriculture, dairy operations, manufacturing, wastewater, oil & gas, or another heavy industrial environment.
• Previous experience managing field-based operations and leading operational teams.
• A strong maintenance mindset with the ability to understand equipment reliability, preventative maintenance, and continuous improvement.
• Experience using CMMS, ERP systems, or other operational management software.
• A proven ability to develop SOPs, improve operational processes, and build high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to build long-term relationships with customers, farm owners, contractors, and internal stakeholders.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join an expanding RNG business where you'll have real ownership of a critical operation. You'll lead a close-knit team, work directly with dairy partners across multiple sites, and play a key role in delivering safe, efficient, and reliable operations that support renewable energy production.