Principal Process Specialist

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Rickmansworth; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car Allowance Provided.

Generous Pension Scheme through AON.

Annual Leave benefits up to 30 days

Job summary

Thames Water seeks a Principal Process Specialist to shape environmental compliance for sewage treatment works in the South London area. You will provide senior wastewater knowledge to meet regulatory requirements and lead improvement across process streams.

This role blends process science, engineering, operations and regulation, driving continuous improvement and high-quality, compliant outputs. Hybrid base locations are indicated, with a 36-hour week and standby payments.

Qualifications

• Subject matter expert in wastewater treatment and regulation with extensive operational experience across sites & process streams.
• Data analytics of wastewater KPIs, reporting and strategising on results.
• Comprehensive understanding of permitting requirements and innovative ideas to solve non-compliances.
• Represents Operations in project design, delivery and commissioning of capital schemes with confident calculations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor to drive knowledge sharing and upskilling.
• Provide thought leadership and proactive problem-solving with colleagues.
• Present and communicate to diverse audiences with confidence.
• Perform root cause analysis and peer review, sharing lessons learned.
• Participate in out-of-hours rota and provide incident support.

Skills

Wastewater treatment expertise

Regulation & compliance

Data analytics

Leadership & mentorship

Project design & delivery

Communication skills

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 in 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 Process 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, Hybrid - Beddington
Working Pattern: 36 Hours per week (Mon - Fri) plus the inclusion of a standby rota for which you will receive additional payment.

• 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.

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, skilled people committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

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 meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits. 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?

We're committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that's extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know. 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 and meet colleagues.

• Offering a salary up to £60,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus a car allowance on top.
• 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.
• Generous Paternity Leave, including 4 weeks paid and an optional 2 weeks unpaid.
• Enhanced Maternity Leave, 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay.
• 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.
• Offering a salary up to £60,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus a car allowance on top.