Principal Process Specialist

Thames Water; England; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water management company in the UK is seeking a Principal Waste Water Specialist. This role involves leading technical compliance and wastewater treatment initiatives across multiple sites, utilizing your expertise in regulation and process optimization. You will also mentor a team, conduct data analysis, and contribute to strategic compliance goals. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £70,000, hybrid working options, and various additional benefits.

Benefits

26 days annual leave

Company car allowance

Generous pension scheme

Health benefits

Qualifications

• Significant experience with wastewater processes and regulation.
• Proven track record in process improvements and delivering change.
• Experience in managing and leading technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and provide expertise in wastewater treatment and regulation.
• Conduct data analytics on wastewater treatment KPIs.
• Train and mentor other process specialists.

Skills

Wastewater treatment expertise

Technical communication

Data analytics

Leadership

Problem-solving

Education

BSc/MSc in science/engineering

Job description

Are you a wastewater treatment technical lead? We’re seeking a subject matter expert to help shape and lead our environmental compliance across our sewage treatment works in the South London area.

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.

Communication & Leadership

• 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.

Base Location:

Hybrid - Hogsmill (STW), Hybrid - Mogden (STW) - TW7 7LW

Working Pattern:

36 Hours per week (Mon – Fri) plus the inclusion of a standby rota for which you will receive additional payment.

What should you bring to this role?

To thrive in this role, the essential criteria you’ll need are:

• 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 in holding in‑depth, technical conversations and 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.

Additional skills and experiences would be great to have/bring:

• BSc/MSc in science/engineering is highly advantageous.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £70,000 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)
• Company Car Allowance Provided.
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON
• 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.