Graduate Environmental & Operations Trainee
Envar Composting
Cambridgeshire, PE28 3BS
Job Description
Department: Compliance with operational secondment
Reports to: Head of Compliance
Location: Multi‑site (primarily Envar facilities; travel required)
Contract: Permanent, full‑time
Salary: £26,000
About Envar
Envar is a leading UK organic‑waste and biomass recycling operator and part of the Heathcote Holdings group—a family‑owned collection of complementary environmental and infrastructure businesses. We run composting operations across England (including our flagship Cambridgeshire site and large facilities in Kent/West London among others), processing green and food waste into certified soil improvers for agriculture, landscaping and horticultural markets. Being in a family‑run group means we work practically and collaboratively—close to the plant and the people—so decisions are quick, sleeves are rolled, and everyone mucks in.
How we work
We’re not a siloed corporate. We operate more like a tight, multi‑skilled team: operators, compliance, commercial working side‑by‑side. That mindset shapes this role—your development starts in operations so you understand how sites really run, and then you bring that insight into compliance. We want someone who’s curious, practical and happy to get stuck in.
Purpose of the role
To develop a hands‑on, operationally knowledgeable compliance professional who understands how the site runs as well as what the various regulators require. This role combines structured training in environmental compliance with a substantial rotation through operations
Rotation plan (first 12 months)
Phase 1 – Operations / Operational Support (6–8 months). You’ll learn the flow of materials from weighbridge to finished product, the purpose of our control measures (containment, housekeeping, odour/dust/noise), and what is required of us all on a working site or multiple sites. Expect time outdoors and in the plant—shadowing loaders/screeners, helping with daily checks and understanding how records support safe, efficient operations whilst fulfilling our requirements with the regulator. In this phase you will have a compliance focus in an operational setting, helping ops to maintain what is required of them at a site level
Phase 2 – Environmental Compliance (6–8 months). Having had compliance support since the start of the operational phase you will be expected to apply that operational understanding to permits, monitoring, audits, ISO development and continual improvement. The aim is to become a competent support manager who can aid the operation to continue in the best way possible whilst ensuring they also comply with the rules.
Ongoing (throughout). Weekly catch-up sessions with the Head of Compliance or the Compliance Managers. To include:
• Review of progress and discussion of what has been learned
• Learning points to record for ongoing development
• 40-minute training session as per the training plan which shall be created
Key responsibilities
Operations / Operational Support (Phase 1)
• Learn how we work and why our processes and procedures exist; help complete daily/weekly checks and basic meter/monitor readings, fly checks, arranging visits.
• Support good housekeeping, stock management such as batch records that make the material traceable and presenting that easier.
• Keep records that matter to operations: loader logs, stock movements, utility readings, simple action tracking.
Environmental Compliance (Phase 2)
• Help maintain permit/planning compliance: inspections, complaints log, monitoring schedules and regulator submissions.
• Draft/update operating techniques and risk assessments (environmental, odour, dust, noise) under guidance; write clear incident/near‑miss reports.
• Prepare evidence packs for internal/external audits and help close actions quickly and practically.
• Collate and administrate the internal systems and present results from analysis of customer complaints, incident data and surveys
• Collate and QC site data (energy, water, sampling, waste movements) for KPIs and management reporting.
• Support the compliance manager and the sites in the maintenance of the quality and compliance systems. Learn how to take and send samples and develop systems for ensuring they are managed and maintained at the right frequency.
Expectations (both phases)
• Pitch in where needed—sampling, marshaling traffic, tidying and sorting electronically and in real life, scanning paperwork—or arranging task pipelines and diaries/events where required.
• Communicate clearly with operators and managers, flag issues where required
• Safe working: correct PPE, good near‑miss reporting, tidy work area.
Targets
• Operational grounding: can explain site process flow and the purpose of each activity we do within 3 months.
• Compliance delivery: zero missed monitoring/audit deadlines within 6 months of entering Phase 2.
• Quality of records: site and compliance records complete, legible and useful to operations.
• Initiative: at least 3 small, low‑cost improvements in Phase 1 and at least 2 compliance improvements in Phase 2.
Person specification
Essential
• Hands‑on mindset: enjoys being on site and solving practical problems.
• Not afraid of getting dirty, being outside in adverse weather or early mornings
• Clear communicator who listens and can turn observations into simple, useful notes/checks.
• Organised and reliable; keeps records tidy and follows through.
• Comfortable with basic tools/plant interfaces (gauges, handheld meters) and with MS Office
• Full UK driving licence; able to travel between sites
Desirable
• Any experience in waste, recycling, construction, agriculture or similar.
• Basic grasp of H&S and environmental fundamentals (permit purpose, risk assessment, what the EA do)
• Familiarity with machinery
Training & development
• Formal courses as needed e.g., Spill Response, Odour/Air Monitoring Awareness, IOSH Working/Managing Safely, CoTC
• Progression pathway on successful completion of both phases (e.g., Compliance Coordinator to Compliance Manager).
Working conditions
• Hours: 40–45 hours/week typical and occasional flexibility to align with site operations.
• Environment: outdoor/plant environments with noise, odour and moving machinery; PPE provided and required.
• Travel between sites as needed (pool vehicle or mileage policy).
Salary
26000
Hours
45
How to apply
email sheq@envar.co.uk