Independent Authoriser

TN United Kingdom; Southend-on-Sea; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading water and wastewater company as an Independent Authoriser. You will ensure safety and compliance in confined space activities, develop health and safety documentation, and collaborate with teams to improve practices. This role offers a competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

26 days holiday per year

Generous Pension Scheme

Access to health and well-being benefits

Qualifications

• Proven background in Water and/or Wastewater network operations.
• Deep understanding of confined space risks.
• Ability to influence and engage with all levels of the organisation.

Responsibilities

• Review and coordinate method statements and risk assessments.
• Develop health and safety documentation.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on confined space hazards.

Skills

Health & Safety

Risk Assessment

Communication

Education

IOSH/NEBOSH General Certificate

Job description

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At Thames Water, you will play a key role in safeguarding our operations. As an Independent Authoriser, you will review and coordinate complex method statements and risk assessments, ensuring that all confined space entry activities are executed safely and in full compliance with industry standards. Your expertise will support our Water and Waste networks, especially during critical isolations and diversions, making you a linchpin in our commitment to safety and operational excellence.

What you’ll be doing as an Independent Authoriser

1. Health & Safety Documentation:
   • Develop, align, and, where necessary, create new documents, procedures, and guidance materials that control corporate risks.
   • Ensure that all health and safety processes are robust and function effectively across the entire business.
2. Risk Assessment & Mitigation:
   • Proactively identify and assess potential hazards to ensure risks are minimised to an acceptable level (ALARP – As Low As Reasonably Practicable).
   • Collaborate with frontline staff, contractors, and management teams to share insights and drive continuous improvement across the organisation.
3. Cross-Departmental Knowledge Sharing:
   • Brief team members on learnings from investigations or incidents to foster an environment of continuous safety improvement.
   • Influence practices and share lessons learned, ensuring that policies not only meet but exceed regulatory standards.
4. Confined Space Management:
   • Serve as the subject matter expert (SME) on confined space hazards, encompassing risks such as working at height, manual handling, COSHH, traffic management, and compliance with LOLER/PUWER regulations.
   • Assist in updating and managing documentation focused on the critical risk of “Failure to Manage Confined Spaces,” and present findings to senior management and directors.

Base Location: Beckton STW - Hybrid.

Working Pattern or hours: 36 Hours per week.

What you should bring to the role

• Proven background in Water and/or Wastewater network operations or process management.
• Deep understanding of confined space risks and the specific challenges they present within the water industry.
• Familiarity with Health & Safety risks associated with general working practices.
• Ability to influence and engage with all levels of the organisation – from frontline employees to senior executives.
• IOSH/NEBOSH General Certificate, or willingness to gain the qualification on the job.
• Full UK Driving License

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £60,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and well-being, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

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 to 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. Our aim is 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 to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. 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.