Electrician

Plant Electrician

Synthomer is a leading supplier of high-performance, highly specialised polymers and ingredients that play vital roles in key sectors such as coatings, construction, adhesives, and health and protection – growing markets that serve billions of end users worldwide. Headquartered in London, UK and publicly listed there since 1971, we employ c.3,900 employees across our 5 innovation centres of excellence and more than 29 manufacturing sites across Europe, North America and Asia. Around 20% of our sales volumes are from new and patent protected products.

The Plant Electrician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of electrical systems and equipment in a chemical processing environment. This role requires strict adherence to safety standards due to hazardous materials, classified areas, and critical continuous operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Strictly follow all plant safety procedures, including LOTO, confined space, and hot work permits.
• Comply with NEC, NFPA 70E, OSHA, and plant-specific safety standards.
• Work safely in hazardous (classified) locations such as Class I, II, and III environments.
• Utilize intrinsically safe equipment and understand explosion-proof installations.

Electrical Troubleshooting & Repair

• Diagnose, isolate, and repair faults on 480V, 4160V, and 25kV, 3-phase systems.
• Troubleshoot electrical issues on process-critical equipment, minimizing downtime.
• Maintain and repair:
• Switchgear and substations
• MCCs (Motor Control Centers)
• Transformers and feeders
• Provide emergency support during plant upsets, outages, and shutdowns.

Instrumentation & Process Control

• Troubleshoot and maintain process instrumentation, including:
• Pressure, flow, level, and temperature transmitters
• Control valves and positioners
• Calibrate and verify instruments for process accuracy and safety.
• Support distributed control systems (DCS), PLCs, and SCADA systems.

PLC, Automation & Drives

• Troubleshoot and maintain PLC-based control systems and automated processes.
• Assist with program modifications and diagnostics.
• Maintain and repair VFDs, soft starters, and motor controls.
• Work with industrial communication systems (Ethernet/IP, Modbus, Profibus if applicable).

Equipment Maintenance

• Disassemble, inspect, and repair:
• Pumps, compressors, and agitators (electrical components)
• Motors and M.G. sets
• Bearings, brushes, and rotating equipment parts
• Perform motor testing (megger, winding resistance, etc.).

Installation & Electrical Work

• Install and run conduit in corrosive and hazardous environments.
• Pull and terminate low, medium-voltage cables.
• Install and maintain explosion-proof and intrinsically safe systems.
• Build and modify control panels and field junction boxes.

Preventive & Predictive Maintenance

• Perform routine preventive maintenance (PMs) on critical process equipment.
• Conduct predictive maintenance, including:
• Infrared thermography
• Vibration monitoring (as applicable)
• Maintain detailed maintenance logs and compliance records.

Power Distribution Systems

• Maintain and troubleshoot plant power distribution systems.
• Safely perform switching operations for medium-voltage systems.
• Understand redundant power systems and backup generation.

Turnarounds, Shutdowns & Projects

• Participate in planned plant shutdowns (turnarounds).
• Support new installations, capital projects, and upgrades.
• Coordinate with engineers, operators, and contractors.
• Perform root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and implement corrective actions.

Work Environment

• Work in harsh industrial conditions (heat, chemicals, noise).
• Use ladders, scaffolding, and MEWPs.
• Wear required PPE including FR clothing, respirators, and chemical protection when necessary.

Qualifications

• Experience in industrial electrical maintenance, preferably in chemical, petrochemical, or refinery environments
• Strong knowledge of:
• Hazardous location classifications (Class I, Div 1 & 2)
• NEC and NFPA 70E
• Experience with instrumentation, process control systems, and DCS/PLC environments
• High level of mechanical and electrical aptitude
• Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills

Core Competencies

• Strong initiative and ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Effective team collaboration with operations and engineering
• Ability to interpret P&IDs, one-lines, schematics, and loop diagrams

Journeyman papers or equivalent education and experience are required.

Global Benefits Overview

• Competitive, market-aligned compensation
• Discretionary global bonus scheme
• Discretionary Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) – for senior positions
• Company car or car allowance – varies by region and role
• Healthcare – tailored to regional locations
• Parental leave and family support – maternity, paternity, adoption (aligned with regional policies)
• Working options – flexibility where it matters, based on role and business needs
• Learning & development opportunities – training, online platforms, buddy/mentorship programs, Internal Synthomer University with L&D offers
• Wellbeing support – employee assistance program (EAP), mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives
• Retirement / pension contributions – plans vary by country
• Culture of Inclusion – where everyone can thrive
• Performance culture, global reward & recognition programmes