Closing Date
2025-05-12
Job Title: Assistant Process Operator
Location: Chatham (Medway East) to Isle of Sheppey, Kent – you will need to be willing to travel across multiple sites and hold a full, valid UK driving licence.
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: 38 hours per week
Salary: £26.258 per annum
Ideally, you will be based in or around the Kent area, particularly near Chatham & Isle of Sheppey
At Southern Water, you’ll enjoy structured hours, stability, and the opportunity to develop your skills with a company committed to building a greener, more sustainable future.
Your experience — whether from within the water industry or from other sectors — is valuable to us. We welcome applications from those with outdoor working experience or strong transferable skills who are keen to learn and grow with us.
In return, you’ll benefit from a competitive base salary of up to £26,566.80, plus a generous benefits package, including:
1. Company van (for business use only) and fuel card
2. 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
3. Pension contributions up to 11%
4. Company and performance-related bonus
5. Life assurance equal to 4x salary
6. Health Cash Plan
7. Discounts with over 800 retailers
8. Digital GP service
9. Two paid volunteering days per year
10. Cycle to work scheme
11. Study support for job-related qualifications
12. Salary sacrifice electric car scheme (after 6 months’ service)
13. Occupational health support
14. And much more
About the Role
You will be responsible for maintaining the security, safety, and operation of reservoirs and water supply sites across your assigned area, helping to protect water quality and maintain essential services for our customers and communities.
You’ll have the freedom and flexibility to manage your own workload across sites, with support always available from your team when needed. You’ll spend most of your time working independently outdoors — ideal if you enjoy being outside and managing your day with a good balance of responsibility and autonomy.
Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
15. Monitoring sites for any events that could impact water quality and escalating issues when necessary
16. Ensuring site security, safety, and hygiene standards are consistently met
17. Completing hazard reporting and supporting health and safety compliance
18. Keeping detailed, accurate records to meet regulatory (ISO) compliance
19. Communicating effectively with contractors and internal teams such as maintenance
20. Managing your assigned sites diligently, escalating issues when needed
21. Lone working safely and effectively, with occasional collaboration across sites
You will be:
22. Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
23. Organised, diligent, and able to manage your own workload independently
24. Confident to report problems, escalate issues, and ask for support when needed
25. Open to change and eager to learn new processes and standards
26. A clear communicator, able to work collaboratively with colleagues and contractors
27. Practical, proactive, and responsible, always putting health and safety first
28. Resilient, with a good sense of humour and a positive attitude to challenges
Essential:
29. Valid UK Manual Driving Licence
30. GCSEs (or equivalent experience) with strong attention to detail and record-keeping
While water industry experience would be an advantage, it is not essential — if you bring outdoor working experience, a strong work ethic, and the right attitude, we’ll provide all the training you need.
Does this sound like you? Even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. We’re committed to finding practical solutions to support flexible working wherever possible.
Join our Water Supply Team and build a career with Southern Water — supporting customers, communities, and the environment.
The next stage of the recruitment process will be an assessment day which will be taking place on Tuesday the 20th of May.