Operator - Battery Recycling

• Continuous 24/7 operations with 4-on/4-off rotating shift roster
• Hands-on role operating diverse industrial processing equipment
• Strong safety culture with active participation in improvement initiatives

Join the dynamic team as an Operator and become an essential part of a continuous 24/7 processing operation where safety, reliability, and hands-on expertise drive success.

In this critical role, you will operate and monitor industrial equipment including shredders, pumps, solvent extraction plants, and crystalliser plants, ensuring smooth and compliant plant operations across rotating day and night shifts. Your chemical or metallurgical processing plant experience will be vital as you conduct routine inspections, record accurate operational data, and manage plant start-up and shutdown procedures under the guidance of the Shift Supervisor. Strong problem-solving and adaptability skills will enable you to identify operational issues, support process trials, and collaborate effectively with laboratory technicians, maintenance teams, and technical staff.

Your commitment to safety compliance and awareness, combined with proficiency in industrial equipment operation and process data recording, will ensure environmental and site-specific requirements are consistently met.

This hands-on position demands effective team collaboration and a practical approach to troubleshooting in a fast-paced, continuous shift operations environment.

If you thrive in a rotating roster, value clear communication, and are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of operational excellence, this opportunity offers a rewarding pathway to contribute meaningfully to plant performance and safety culture.

At Renewable Metals, we’re pioneering the future of battery recycling. Our mission is simple but powerful: to sustainably recover critical minerals from lithium-ion battery waste. With our world-first alkali recycling process, we can recover over 95% of lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese across all major lithium-ion battery chemistries. Unlike traditional methods, our technology is cleaner, more cost-effective and better for the planet.

Backed by leading climate-tech investors — the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Climate Tech Partners, Investible and the Grantham Foundation — as well as grant support from the NSW state and federal governments, we’re scaling up fast. We’re commissioning our large-scale demonstration plant in Perth and progressing an engineering study for a commercial facility in the Hunter region of NSW.

We’re looking for practical, passionate problem-solvers who want to accelerate decarbonisation, tackle the e-waste challenge and drive real impact. If you thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and want to help protect the planet with purpose-built innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

• Operate and monitor process equipment including shredders, pumps, solvent extraction plant, and crystalliser plant in accordance with operating procedures.
• Conduct routine inspections of equipment and report faults, abnormal conditions, or safety concerns to maintenance and supervisory staff.
• Record and maintain accurate operational data, logs, and shift handover information.
• Assist with plant start-up, shutdown, and process transitions under supervision.
• Support process trials and campaigns by following updated instructions and providing feedback on operability.
• Collaborate with operators, laboratory technicians, maintenance, and technical staff to support safe and efficient plant operation.
• Identify and escalate operational issues promptly, and assist with troubleshooting under the direction of the Shift Supervisor.
• Adhere to all safety procedures, permit systems, and PPE requirements at all times.
• Ensure compliance with environmental and site-specific operating requirements.
• Actively participate in safety discussions, toolbox talks, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Full Australian working rights with the ability to work rotating 12-hour day and night shifts on a continuous 4-on/4-off roster.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience as an operator in a manufacturing, processing, or industrial plant environment, with chemical or metallurgical processing experience highly regarded.
• Proven ability to safely operate industrial equipment including shredders, pumps, solvent extraction plants, and crystalliser plants in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Experience working in continuous 24/7 plant operations, including weekends and public holidays.
• Strong understanding of plant start-up, shutdown, and process transition procedures under supervision.
• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to accurately record operational data, maintain logs, and complete comprehensive shift handover documentation.
• Unwavering commitment to safety compliance, including adherence to permit systems, PPE requirements, and environmental operating standards.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to identify operational issues, escalate concerns promptly, and assist with troubleshooting under direction.
• Strong team collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively alongside operators, laboratory technicians, maintenance staff, and technical personnel.
• Reliable and adaptable personality with a willingness to learn, take direction, and contribute positively to a small shift team environment.
• Clear and effective communicator who can provide feedback on operability and participate actively in safety discussions and toolbox talks.
• Calm and practical approach when dealing with operational challenges, time pressure, or abnormal plant conditions whilst maintaining a safety-first mindset.