Principal Waste Water Specialist

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Swindon, Reading; Hybrid; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job description

Hybrid - Newbury (STW), Hybrid - Reading (STW) - RG2 0RP, Hybrid - Swindon (STW)

Job title: Principal Waste Water Specialist Ref: 40205

Division: Asset Operations & Capital Delivery

Location: Hybrid - Newbury (STW), Hybrid - Reading (STW) - RG2 0RP, Hybrid - Swindon (STW)

Contract type: Permanent

Full/Part-time: Full-time

Hours: 36 hours per week

Salary: Offering a salary up to £62,000 per annum depending on skills and experience + you will get a car allowance on top!

Job grade: B

Closing date: 08/04/2025

Are you a wastewater treatment technical lead? We’re seeking a subject matter expert to help shape and lead our environmental compliance across nearly 80 sewage treatment works in the Reading, Newbury and Swindon areas.

As the most senior technical position of process compliance, Principal Process Specialists provide leading wastewater knowledge to achieve regulatory requirements.

The job blends process science, engineering, operations, and regulation to address escalations and matters of high complexity.

You will provide a strategic outlook on regional compliance performance and horizon scanning for future risk. Acting as coach, mentor and leader, you promote continuous improvement and drive for leading quality, assurance and consistency.

The role embodies a compliance-driven culture and seeks to improve our environmental performance.

What will you be doing as a Principal Waste Water Specialist?

Technical Expertise

• Being a subject matter expert in wastewater treatment and regulation, using extensive operational experience to solve problems across different sites & process streams.
• Data analytics of wastewater treatment KPIs, reporting and strategising on results.
• Comprehensive understanding of all permitting requirements and innovative idea generation to solve non-compliances.
• Key representative of Operations teams for project design, delivery and commissioning of capital schemes – capable of confident calculation handling.
• Optimisation of site processes to reduce our cost-of-treatment, with a holistic understanding of cost vs benefit.
• Lead reduction of flow-related compliance issues, including storm discharges.
• Undertake technical training, holding key process safety roles.
• Proactive in learning about new wastewater technologies and disseminating knowledge.
• Lead, coach, and mentor to drive knowledge sharing, upskilling and improved competency of those you work with.
• Thought leadership in your field, capable of positive, proactive problem solving and bringing colleagues on board with novel solutions.
• High confidence in presenting and communicating to all audiences.
• Produce root cause analysis and peer review the work of others, sharing lessons learned to prevent repeats.
• Out-of-hours rota participation, offering advice during event scenarios.
• Look after a sub-team of other Process Specialists as a driven, organised, empathetic and supportive leader.
• Act as a central keystone in coordinating input from across multiple teams and departments across the business to deliver complex outputs.
• Spearheading the development of wastewater learning materials, asset standards and project scopes.
• Significant experience working with wastewater processes, regulation and pollution investigations.
• Proven track record in leading on fault finding, process improvements and delivering change – being curious, self-driven & motivated.
• Confident holding in-depth, technical conversations, being a great communicator who can relay complex information to non-technical audiences.
• Experience in managing and leading technical teams is key, as well as coaching & mentoring.
• A full UK driving licence is mandatory, with access to your transport and business-use insurance. (car allowance is provided)
• Strong with data handling, processing, reporting, and adapting to IT systems.
• Superb time management skills, able to self-organise and be a true self-starter.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £62,000 per annum depending on skills and experience + you will get a car allowance on top.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
• Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference in millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. We aim to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up as an ambassador to support our customers on the front line. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues, and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.