Plant Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Company: Vanguard Renewables
Facility: EZ Recycling
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
Job Type: Full-Time | In-Person
Shift: 3:00 PM–11:00 PM
Pay: $20–$27 per hour DOE
Industry: Recycling | Industrial Processing | Manufacturing | Environmental Services

Compensation & Benefits:

Vanguard Renewables offers competitive compensation and benefits, including:

• $20–$27 per hour

• Employer Health Care Benefits

• Vision and Wellness Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Stable, Full-Time Employment

• Hands-On Leadership Experience

• Training and Professional Development Opportunities

• Career Growth with a National Leader in Environmental Services

Lead the Team. Keep Production Moving. Make an Environmental Impact.

Vanguard Renewables is seeking a dependable, hands-on, and safety-focused Lead Operator to join our EZ Recycling facility in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Reporting to the Lead Supervisor, the Lead Operator plays a vital role in overseeing the sorting and processing of recyclable materials received from manufacturing and distribution centers.

This is not a desk-based leadership position. You'll work alongside the processing team while providing day-to-day guidance, answering workflow questions, reinforcing safety expectations, monitoring productivity, operating industrial equipment, and helping ensure every shift runs safely and efficiently.

If you have experience in manufacturing, industrial processing, recycling, production, warehouse operations, material handling, assembly lines, or equipment operation and are ready to take on greater leadership responsibility, we'd like to hear from you.

Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish and availability to work the 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shift are required.

About Vanguard Renewables:

Vanguard Renewables is a national leader in environmental services and the development of food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects.

The company builds, owns, and operates on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities and continues to expand nationally through its Farm Powered® platform.

Our work helps:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Divert waste from traditional disposal.

• Generate renewable energy.

• Support regenerative agriculture.

• Advance environmental sustainability.

Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock.

What You'll Do:

Team Leadership & Shift Support

• Lead the processing team during assigned shifts.

• Help ensure recycling and processing activities are completed safely, accurately, and on time.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee questions regarding workflow, safety expectations, and productivity goals.

• Provide hands-on guidance and support to team members throughout the shift.

• Help maintain accountability for attendance, productivity, quality, and safe work practices.

• Communicate operational concerns and team needs to management.

• Assist with training and onboarding new employees.

• Lead by example by working alongside the team and demonstrating strong safety, quality, and productivity standards.

Recycling & Material Processing

• Sort and process recyclable materials received from manufacturers and distribution centers.

• Ensure materials are processed according to company procedures and environmental standards.

• Maintain efficient material flow throughout the facility.

• Help the team meet daily production and quality goals.

• Respond quickly to changing workflow priorities and operating conditions.

• Collaborate with team members to ensure timely processing of incoming materials.

Equipment Operation

Operate and work around industrial recycling and processing equipment, including:

• Conveyors

• Grinders

• Crushers

• Balers

• Pumps

• Forklifts

• Assembly line equipment

• Other material-handling and processing machinery

Monitor equipment performance and promptly report mechanical problems, unusual operating conditions, or safety concerns to management.

Equipment Troubleshooting & Maintenance Support

• Identify and report equipment problems before they result in significant downtime.

• Perform minor mechanical troubleshooting and repairs when qualified and appropriate.

• Help diagnose basic equipment failures.

• Support preventive maintenance and equipment reliability efforts.

• Communicate equipment concerns clearly to management and maintenance personnel.

• Help ensure equipment is operated safely and according to established procedures.

Safety & Compliance

• Make safety a priority in every task.

• Follow and reinforce all company safety policies, procedures, and requirements.

• Ensure team members understand and follow safety expectations.

• Properly use all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

• Immediately report unsafe conditions, equipment issues, or potential hazards.

• Participate in material-handling safety activities.

• Promote a workplace culture focused on preventing accidents and injuries.

• Help maintain compliance with applicable work rules and safety requirements.

Production, Quality & Productivity

• Help the processing team meet daily production goals.

• Monitor workflow and identify potential bottlenecks.

• Reinforce quality expectations throughout the shift.

• Respond quickly to changing production conditions.

• Help ensure timely and accurate completion of recycling activities.

• Communicate productivity concerns and operational issues to leadership.

• Analyze basic operating information and help identify opportunities for improvement.

Training & Employee Support

• Assist with onboarding and training new employees.

• Demonstrate proper work procedures and equipment operation.

• Reinforce safety expectations and company standards.

• Answer team questions regarding workflow and productivity.

• Help employees develop confidence and consistency in their roles.

• Provide constructive, day-to-day guidance while maintaining a positive and respectful work environment.

Housekeeping & Facility Support

• Participate in plant housekeeping programs.

• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas.

• Support material-handling safety activities.

• Help ensure tools, equipment, and workspaces remain organized.

• Work collaboratively with employees, supervisors, maintenance personnel, and management.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED.

• At least 2 years of experience in a manufacturing, industrial, recycling, production, or processing environment.

• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish.

• Ability to work the required 3:00 PM–11:00 PM shift.

• Ability to reliably commute to St. Paul, Minnesota 55104.

• Ability to regularly lift, move, push, and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds.

• Ability to work in an industrial environment with exposure to noise, heat, cold, liquids, and moving equipment.

• Experience operating assembly line equipment and forklifts, or the willingness and ability to train.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a team.

• Ability to provide day-to-day guidance and support to other employees.

• Ability to meet daily production and quality goals.

• Strong reliability and punctual attendance.

• Commitment to following all workplace safety requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

We're especially interested in candidates with:

• Previous lead, team lead, shift lead, or supervisory experience in a manufacturing or industrial processing environment.

• Recycling or material-processing experience.

• Forklift certification.

• Experience operating conveyors, grinders, crushers, balers, pumps, or similar industrial equipment.

• Experience diagnosing and repairing minor mechanical equipment failures.

• Familiarity with industrial safety procedures and best practices.

• Ability to respond quickly to changing conditions.

• Experience analyzing basic operational or production data.

• Basic proficiency with Windows-based applications, including:

  • Microsoft Outlook

  • Microsoft Word

  • Microsoft Excel

Physical Requirements:

Candidates must be able to:

• Regularly lift, move, push, and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Occasionally handle objects weighing up to 75 pounds.

• Stand and remain physically active throughout the shift.

• Perform repetitive physical tasks.

• Work around industrial machinery and rotating equipment.

• Work both indoors and outdoors.

• Wear all required Personal Protective Equipment.

• Safely perform hands-on work in an active industrial environment.

Working Conditions:

This position operates in an industrial environment, both indoors and outdoors.

Employees should expect regular exposure to:

• Heat

• Cold

• Noise

• Liquids

• Rotating equipment

• Moving machinery

• Industrial processing equipment

• Other conditions typically encountered in a manufacturing or industrial environment

Limited exposure to hazardous materials and/or toxic fumes may occur and will require the use of approved Personal Protective Equipment.

Vanguard Renewables ensures that all applicable work rules and safety requirements are closely followed.

What Success Looks Like:

Successful Lead Operators:

• Lead by example and work alongside the team.

• Maintain dependable and punctual attendance.

• Communicate effectively in both English and Spanish.

• Keep production moving safely and efficiently.

• Help employees understand workflow, safety, quality, and productivity expectations.

• Operate equipment responsibly.

• Identify and communicate equipment or safety concerns quickly.

• Support and train new employees.

• Adapt quickly to changing production conditions.

• Maintain clean, organized, and safe work areas.

• Help create a positive, accountable, and productive team environment.

Why Join Vanguard Renewables?

This is an opportunity to take the next step in your career by combining hands-on industrial work with day-to-day team leadership.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Build valuable leadership experience.

• Gain hands-on experience with industrial recycling equipment.

• Help train and develop team members.

• Contribute directly to safe and efficient facility operations.

• Work for a national leader in environmental services and renewable energy.

• Build a long-term career in a growing industry.

If you're an experienced industrial or manufacturing professional who enjoys leading by example, supporting a team, and keeping production moving, we encourage you to apply today.

Vanguard Renewables is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. Employment decisions are merit-based and made without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.