Are you ready to play a key role in keeping communities thriving and protecting the environment? At Thames Water, our two-year Learning to Lead Waste Management Graduate Programme gives you the chance to rotate through two hands-on operational placements, tackling the challenges of collecting and treating millions of litres of wastewater every day.
What you’ll be doing as a Waste Management Graduate
Year 1: Home Counties Region
Support the Head of Region and senior leadership by driving key initiatives and strategic priorities. Gain frontline exposure, coordination experience, and insight into high-impact decision-making while working across functions, for a full view of waste operations.
Year 2: Maple Lodge Site/Thames Water site in Rickmansworth and surrounding area
Learn to step into a leadership role within the Waste team, you will support managing day-to-day operations and driving improvements in wastewater treatment. Work with the site team to lead a multi-skilled team, monitor performance, ensure compliance, and champion operational excellence.
Beyond the Programme
Progress into a frontline leadership role with ownership of operational teams and site performance, or specialise in a technical area depending on your skills and interests.
Across your two‑year journey, you’ll be empowered by dedicated mentors and managers, with opportunities to:
1. Accelerate your business and personal growth through real-world development experiences
2. Build essential safety confidence with hands‑on health and safety training
3. Make a difference by getting involved in meaningful charity projects and personalised coaching
4. Expand your network through mentoring and collaboration with fellow graduates
5. Inspire future talent by becoming a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics' ambassador
What you should bring to the role
To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need is
6. Achieved or working towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the following disciplines: Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Management, Construction Management, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, Geology or Hydrogeology, Chemistry, STEM or management related degree
7. A full driving license, access to own vehicle and business travel insurance is required due to travel across your assigned region
8. A self-motivated, adaptable mindset confident in stepping into new environments
What’s in it for you?
9. Starting salary: Year 1 £32,000, Year 2 £34,000
10. Start Date: September 2026
11. Location: Year 1 - Travel required across the Home Counties Region. Year 2 – Maple Lodge Site or another TW site in Rickmansworth/Surrounding area
12. 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
13. Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
14. Generous Pension Scheme through AON
15. 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