Renewable energy, waste management and anaerobic digestion are three of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the UK economy. The transition to net zero is reshaping the energy landscape, the circular economy is driving investment in waste and recycling infrastructure, and agricultural biogas is becoming a serious commercial proposition for farm businesses and independent operators alike. The people needed to run these businesses, plants and projects are skilled, qualified and in genuine demand.
Agricultural Recruitment Specialists (AgriRS) has been placing people across renewable energy, waste, recycling and anaerobic digestion for over 13 years. We recruit for AD plant operators, biogas and biomethane businesses, waste management companies, energy-from-waste facilities, solar and wind businesses, and the engineering and technical services that support them across the UK.
This guide covers the jobs available across these sectors, the businesses we recruit for and how we can help, whether you are looking to hire or looking for work.
In Focus: The UK Renewable Energy, Waste & Anaerobic Digestion Sector
Green employment in the UK reached 690,900 full-time equivalent roles in 2023, up by 177,600 since 2015, according to ONS estimates published in July 2025. Renewable energy roles grew by 153.9% between 2015 and 2023, adding over 43,000 full-time equivalent positions. Waste and recycling roles grew by 56.7% over the same period, adding a further 57,300 FTEs, and now account for just over half of all green employment in the UK. These are not marginal gains; they represent a fundamental structural shift in where UK employment is being created.
The anaerobic digestion sector has been one of the standout growth stories in UK renewable energy. There are now approximately 756 operational commercial AD plants across the country, processing around 36 million tonnes of organic waste annually and generating 21 TWh of biogas per year, according to industry data compiled by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) in 2025. The sector supports around 4,800 direct jobs and contributes a 1% reduction in UK greenhouse gas emissions annually. In December 2024, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy announced ambitious plans for green gas expansion at the ADBA's annual conference, signalling continued government commitment to biomethane and energy-from-waste infrastructure.
For farm-based operations specifically, on-farm anaerobic digestion represents a growing source of income diversification, with slurry-based and crop-fed systems increasingly common on dairy, pig and arable enterprises. The technical and commercial expertise needed to develop, manage and optimise these plants is specialist, often sitting at the intersection of agricultural knowledge and engineering capability. Finding people with both is consistently challenging.
Careers in Renewable Energy, Waste & Anaerobic Digestion: From the Plant to the Boardroom
Jobs across these sectors span operational and engineering roles, environmental and compliance positions, commercial and project management careers, and senior leadership. Here is a snapshot of what we place.
Operational, Engineering and Technical Roles
AD Plant Manager/Operations Manager: Running the day-to-day operations of an anaerobic digestion facility, covering feedstock management, process optimisation, safety compliance and team supervision.
AD Plant Operator/Process Technician: Hands-on operational role monitoring biological processes, maintaining equipment, managing feedstock intake and ensuring plant performance targets are met.
Biogas/Biomethane Engineer: Mechanical or electrical engineering role focused on the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of biogas upgrading, CHP and grid-injection systems.
Waste Management Operative/Site Supervisor: Operational and supervisory roles within waste collection, transfer, treatment and recycling facilities.
Energy from Waste (EfW) Plant Operator: Running waste-to-energy plant operations, covering fuel intake, combustion systems, emissions monitoring and maintenance.
Solar/Wind Installation Technician: Installing, commissioning and maintaining solar PV, battery storage or wind turbine systems across commercial, agricultural and utility-scale projects.
Maintenance Engineer (Renewables): Planned and reactive maintenance across AD, solar, wind or EfW plant infrastructure, covering mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems.
Commercial, Environmental and Senior Roles
AD Business Development Manager/Feedstock Manager: Commercial role identifying and securing organic feedstock supply contracts for AD plants, or developing new project opportunities for a biogas business.
Renewable Energy Project Manager: Managing the delivery of renewable energy projects from planning through to commissioning, covering budgets, contractors, consenting and stakeholder management.
Environmental Permitting Manager/Compliance Manager: Managing environmental permits, regulatory reporting and compliance obligations for waste, AD or energy-from-waste operations.
Sustainability Manager/ESG Manager: Leading sustainability strategy, carbon reporting and ESG compliance for an agri-business, energy company or waste management operation.
Renewable Energy Sales Manager/Business Development Director: Senior commercial role driving growth for a renewable energy business, including solar, wind, biogas, battery storage or energy efficiency solutions.
Operations Director/General Manager (Renewables or Waste): Senior leadership of a multi-site renewable energy, waste or AD business, with P&L accountability.
Energy Consultant/Technical Adviser: Advisory role providing independent guidance to farm businesses, landowners or organisations on renewable energy technology selection, returns and planning.
The Renewable Energy, Waste & Anaerobic Digestion Sector: What We Cover
Our recruitment spans the full range of businesses operating in renewable energy, waste management and the agricultural biogas sector.
Anaerobic Digestion (Farm-Based and Commercial): Plant operators, managers, engineers and commercial roles across agricultural AD, food waste AD and large-scale commercial biogas facilities.
Biomethane and Grid Injection: Technical, engineering and commercial roles within businesses producing and supplying biomethane to the national gas grid.
Energy from Waste: Operational, engineering and management roles within EfW plants converting non-recyclable waste into electricity and heat.
Waste Management and Recycling: Operational, supervisory and management roles within waste collection, materials recovery, recycling and resource management businesses.
Solar Energy (Ground Mount and Rooftop): Installation, commissioning, maintenance and commercial roles within solar PV and battery storage businesses serving agricultural, commercial and utility customers.
Biomass and Bioenergy: Technical and operational roles within biomass combustion, wood chip fuel supply and bioenergy project management.
Wind Energy: Engineering, operations and maintenance roles within onshore wind farm businesses and wind energy developers.
Renewable Energy Project Development: Planning, consenting, project management and commercial development roles within renewable energy developers and consultancies.
Environmental and Sustainability Consultancy: Environmental assessment, permitting, sustainability strategy and ESG advisory roles within specialist consultancies and in-house teams.
On-Farm Renewable Energy: Advisory, commercial and technical roles helping farm businesses develop and manage solar, AD and other on-farm renewable energy assets.
For Employers
What to Expect from Renewable Energy and AD Recruitment
Recruitment across renewable energy, waste and anaerobic digestion is competitive precisely because the sector is growing fast. The combination of agricultural knowledge, process engineering capability and environmental compliance understanding required for senior AD roles does not come packaged neatly on a standard CV. Plant managers and process engineers who understand both the biological and mechanical sides of AD operations are genuinely scarce. On the commercial side, project developers and business development managers with a track record in renewable energy are in demand from multiple employers simultaneously.
We have been building relationships across these sectors since they were considerably smaller than they are today, and our candidate database reflects that history. Whether you need an AD plant manager, a biomethane engineer, a waste operations director or a renewable energy sales lead, we know who the right candidates are and how to reach them. We will give you a straight view of the market from the start and realistic expectations on timeline and package.
How We Work with Employers
Contingency search: Proactive candidate searches across our network, with targeted advertising where appropriate. No placement, no fee.
Executive search and headhunting: For senior, specialist or hard-to-fill roles where the right candidate needs to be approached directly. 100% success rate since 2012.
Contract and temporary placements: For harvest cover, maternity leave or short-term operational gaps.
Market intelligence: Salary benchmarking, candidate availability and competitor insight to inform your hiring approach.
Candidate profiling: Psychometric and skills assessments to support your final hiring decision.
Whether you are an AD plant manager looking for your next facility, a renewable energy project developer ready for a new challenge, an environmental consultant considering a move into industry, or an engineer with process plant experience looking to move into the green energy sector, we work with businesses actively looking for people like you. Many of the roles we fill are never publicly advertised.
What We Offer Candidates
Free and confidential service: No cost to register, and your details are handled with complete discretion.
Access to unadvertised roles: A significant proportion of the positions we fill never reach a job board.
CV and interview support: Practical guidance to help you present yourself well at every stage.
UK-wide coverage: Vacancies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Career guidance: Whether you know exactly what you want or are still weighing up your options, we will give you an honest view of the market.
3 Quick Wins on Our Site
Get help with your application using our candidate tips.
Stay in the Loop with Renewable Energy and AD Sector Insights
Our AgriCulture Live podcast features conversations with people shaping the future of UK agriculture and land-based energy. For sector news, career insight and hiring guidance, our blog covers the topics that matter most to people working in renewable energy and waste management:
Speak to Our Renewable Energy and AD Recruitment Team
If you are an AD plant operator, biogas business, waste management company, renewable energy developer or engineering business looking to fill a role, the first step is to tell us what you need. We know the candidate market in this sector well and will give you a straight view from the start. You can submit a vacancy here and one of our Recruitment Specialists will be in touch soon.
If you are looking for your next renewable energy, waste or AD role, get in touch with a brief outline of your background and what you are looking for. Email info@agriRS.co.uk or call 01905 345 155. Many of the roles we fill are never advertised, so talking to us directly is often the fastest way to find out what is available.
And don't forget to sign up for job alerts so you are always first to know when the right opportunity comes up.
