Principal Process Specialist IED

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental services company is seeking a Principal Process Specialist to lead compliance with the Industrial Emissions Directive. This hybrid role offers a salary of up to £62,000 per annum, plus a car allowance. The successful candidate will be a subject matter expert in sludge treatment and process optimisation, working across various sites. Additional perks include 26 days of annual leave, enhanced parental leave, and health benefits.

Benefits

Annual leave - 26 days, increasing to 30

Health and wellbeing benefits

Generous paternity leave

Enhanced maternity leave

Ongoing performance development reviews

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading fault finding and delivering change.
• Experience with wastewater sludge processes, including anaerobic digestion.
• Strong data handling and IT system adaptation skills.

Responsibilities

• Guide Operations teams in meeting IED obligations.
• Provide leading technical solutions across various sites.
• Conduct root cause analysis of any permit breaches.

Skills

Fault finding

Process improvements

Technical communication

Data handling

Coaching and mentoring

Education

BSc in a science or engineering discipline

Job description

Job title Principal Process Specialist IED Ref 43474 Division Asset Operations & Capital Delivery Location Hybrid - Beckton (STW) - IG11 0AD, Hybrid - Beddington (STW) - CR0 4TH, Hybrid - Crossness (STW) - SE2 9AQ, Hybrid - Deephams (STW) - N9 0BA, Hybrid - Mogden (STW) - TW7 7LW Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Hours 36 Hours per week Salary Offering a salary up to £62,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience, plus a car allowance on top. Job grade B Closing date 05/01/2026

Do you want to help shape and lead Thames Water’s environmental compliance with our new Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) obligations?

We are seeking a Principal Process Specialist to guide our Operations teams in meeting their new obligations, acting as a subject matter expert in sludge treatment processes, anaerobic digestion, and odour management. If you are passionate about making a difference in our role as environmental custodians and helping our teams operate in line with statutory regulations, this role could be for you.

You will innovatively provide leading technical solutions. It is a hands-on role across a range of sites, alongside data analysis, fault finding, pollution mitigation and process optimisation to drive compliance.

Working Hours:

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

This role covers the following locations (travel required as part of the role):

• Beckton (STW) - IG11 0AD
• Beddington (STW) - CR0 4TH
• Crossness (STW) - SE2 9AQ
• Deephams (STW) - N9 0BA

What will you be doing as a Principal Process Specialist (IED):

Technical Expertise

• Being a subject matter expert for IED permits and sludge treatment processes, fault finding and optimising our 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 our regulators, stakeholders and customers.
• Organising and supervising 3rd party contractors for servicing, surveying and remedial works related to our IED requirements.
• 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.

What should you bring to the role?

• 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.
• Travel to multiple sites across your assigned region will be required, so a full UK driving licence is essential, with access to your transport and business-use insurance. (A car allowance is provided.)
• You will be strong with data handling, processing, and reporting, as well as adapting to IT systems.
• You must have 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.
• 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.

What’s in it for you?

• Offering a salary up to £62,000 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)
• 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.
• 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.
• Ongoing performance development reviews to help you be your best and identify growth opportunities.

We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process.

Disclaimer

Due to the high volume of applications we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.