Process Operator

Salary:
To be negotiated, based on experience

Location:
Nottingham, UK

Nova Biochem is a climate-tech company pioneering the transformation of industrial by-products into high-value, sustainable chemicals. Using our proprietary hydrothermal depolymerisation process, we convert lignin-rich residues from pulping and agriculture into renewable aromatic building blocks used in coatings, plastics, and resins - replacing fossil inputs and cutting emissions at the source.

Our mission is to unlock a circular, low-carbon model for industrial chemistry - creating new value from waste while reducing millions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Based in Nottingham, we’re entering a scale-up phase, expanding lab and pilot operations, delivering a €7.5M EU-funded project, and laying the groundwork for commercialisation.

This is a pivotal moment to join a small, mission-driven team determined to reshape the chemical industry through practical innovation.

We are seeking a Process Operator to join our Nottingham lab and pilot operations team and support the safe, consistent running of Nova Biochem’s supercritical water depolymerisation prototype.

This is a hands‑on role within a small team working across depolymerisation, analytics and separation. You will play an important part in supporting R&D, product validation and the development of operating practices that will inform future scale‑up.

This is an opportunity to work directly with novel process technology at a critical stage of development, gaining exposure to pilot operations while helping shape the processes and operating standards that will support Nova Biochem’s move towards larger‑scale production.

• Prepare biomass feed stocks and materials for planned depolymerisation runs.
• Set up, operate and shut down the depolymerisation prototype safely and consistently in line with established procedures.
• Monitor key process conditions such as temperature, pressure and flow, identifying and reporting any deviations or abnormal operating conditions.
• Carry out downstream processing activities including filtration, phase separation, acidification and product recovery.
• Maintain accurate records of process parameters, materials used and operational observations.
• Work closely with the technical and R&D teams to support experiments, process development and continuous improvement.

• Carry out routine equipment checks, cleaning and basic operator-level maintenance to keep the system ready for use.
• Identify equipment faults, wear or performance issues and escalation those requiring technical or engineering support.
• Handle chemicals and process materials safely and maintain a clean, organised working environment.
• Follow relevant SOPs, risk assessments and safety procedures when operating high-temperature and high-pressure equipment.
• Help ensure feed stocks, consumables and operating materials are available for planned runs.

You are practical, reliable and methodical and enjoy working directly with processes and equipment.

You take pride in operating systems correctly and consistently and understand that small deviations in how a process is run can have a significant impact on its performance.

You are comfortable following procedures while remaining observant enough to recognise when something does not look or behave as expected. You take responsibility for the equipment and processes you operate, maintain accurate records and raise issues early rather than allowing them to develop into larger problems.

You will be comfortable working in a small, fast‑moving company where processes are still evolving and where operators play an important part in helping the wider technical team understand how the…