Do you want to play a leading role in shaping Thames Water’s environmental compliance under the new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)?
We’re looking for a Principal Process Specialist to lead the way in sludge treatment, anaerobic digestion, and odour management — supporting our Operations teams to meet evolving regulatory requirements and deliver real environmental improvements.
Working Hours: Hybrid – 36 Hours per week (Mon – Fri)
Locations (travel required as part of the role, Full UK driving licence essential):
* Beckton (STW) – IG11 0AD
* Beddington (STW) – CR0 4TH
* Crossness (STW) – SE2 9AQ
* Deephams (STW) – N9 0BA
* Mogden (STW) – TW7 7LW
Responsibilities
Technical Expertise
* Being a subject matter expert for IED permits and sludge treatment processes, fault finding and optimising processes.
* Utilise all tools and data available to investigate issues, recommend practical solutions and ensure permit compliance.
* Responding to technical design queries using expert site and regulatory knowledge.
* Liaise with regulators, stakeholders and customers.
* Organising and supervising third‑party contractors for servicing, surveying and remedial works related to IED requirements.
Communication & Leadership
* Lead regular business reporting and meetings, being highly confident, engaging and effective in presenting and communicating to all audiences.
* Build rapport with internal teams and external stakeholders, improving technical understanding through mentoring & coaching.
* Produce root cause analysis of any permit breaches, sharing lessons learned to prevent repeats.
* Be prepared to participate in an out‑of‑hours call‑out rota.
* Drive continuous improvement efforts, engaging with various teams to drive innovative, effective scopes forward.
Training
* Undertake technical training and hold key appointed process safety roles.
* Proactive in learning about new wastewater technologies and disseminating this knowledge to wider teams.
* Be a subject lead on IED requirements and sludge treatment processes, spearheading the development of learning materials, asset standards and project scopes.
Qualifications
Essential
* Proven track record in leading on fault finding, process improvements and delivering change.
* Comfortable holding in‑depth, technical conversations, being a great communicator who can relay complex information to non‑technical audiences.
* Strong with data handling, processing, and reporting, as well as adapting to IT systems.
* Experience working with contractors, including reviewing risk assessments, supervising work on site and organising service/surveying works.
* Demonstrable proof of coaching and mentoring others.
* Curious, self‑driven and motivated to find, communicate and solve technical problems.
* Superb time‑management skills, able to self‑organise many differing responsibilities and be a true self‑starter.
* Travel to multiple sites across the assigned region will be required; a full UK driving licence and business‑use insurance are essential (a car allowance is provided).
Desirable
* A minimum of a BSc in a science or engineering discipline is highly advantageous.
* Significant experience working with wastewater sludge processes, including anaerobic digestion, biogas management, odour management and relevant regulations.
Benefits
* Salary up to £52,100 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus a car allowance on top.
* Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with length of service (plus bank holidays).
* Benefits to support health and wellbeing, including annual health MOTs, physiotherapy and counselling, Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.
* Enhanced Maternity Leave – 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
* Generous Paternity Leave – 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
* Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.
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