Process Improvement Engineer

JAM Recruitment Ltd; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday per year

Pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Cycle to Work

Life assurance

Performance-related pay

Job summary

Thames Water is seeking a Process Improvement Engineer in Chertsey for a six-month fixed-term contract. You will lead and sustain optimal process performance across Sewage Treatment Works, focusing on effluent and sludge streams, using data-driven insights and stakeholder collaboration.

The role requires a degree in Engineering, a UK driving license, and hands-on ability to implement improvements that reduce costs, boost reliability, and improve energy efficiency.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Wastewater, Environmental or Mechanical) or relevant industry experience.
• Understanding of wastewater treatment processes for effluent and sludge streams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work with operational/technical stakeholders.
• Hands-on approach to support reactive process optimisation activities on site.
• Analytical and troubleshooting capabilities to identify issues and drive practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and sustain optimal process performance across Sewage Treatment Works (effluent and sludge).
• Identify, develop and deliver process improvements to reduce cost, improve reliability, and enhance energy efficiency.
• Act as process technical leadership for assigned wastewater treatment sites and support operations with troubleshooting and improvement initiatives.
• Own and maintain reporting packs and facilitate weekly/site meetings to discuss Process Performance.
• Initiate and manage projects within the EoW Programme delivering capital investments.

Skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decisions

Process improvement

Troubleshooting

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Engineering degree (Chemical, Wastewater, Environmental or Mechanical)

Relevant industry experience

Job description

The Process Improvement Engineer position in Chertsey is a full-time, six-month fixed-term contract with a competitive salary up to £50,000 per annum, dependent on experience. Reporting through Pertemps Thames Water, you will lead and sustain optimal performance across Sewage Treatment Works, covering both effluent and sludge streams. The role centres on using analytical insights and stakeholder collaboration to identify, develop, and deliver enhancements that lower expenditure, boost reliability, and improve energy efficiency. Acting as the process authority for assigned sites, you will provide technical leadership and support operational teams with reactive troubleshooting. This position requires strong engagement skills and a data-informed approach to align improvements with long-term asset and business strategy. Please note this is a fixed term contract opportunity for 6 months. We are seeking a Process Improvement Engineer to join a high-profile team at an exciting time of change within the company.

What you’ll be doing as a Process Improvement Engineer

You will be responsible for leading and sustaining optimal process performance across Sewage Treatment Works, covering both effluent and sludge treatment streams.

Through data‑led insights and strong stakeholder engagement you will identify, develop and deliver process improvements that reduce cost, improve reliability, enhance energy efficiency, and support long‑term asset and business strategy.

Other responsibilities

• Act as the process technical leadership for assigned wastewater treatment sites.
• Support operations with reactive troubleshooting, optimisation, and proactive improvement across effluent and sludge treatment processes.
• Own and maintain the Site Cockpit and Asset Availability System for wastewater treatment sites, encompasses digestion and dewatering sites.
• Facilitate regular operational discussion around Process Performance through weekly generation reporting packs, weekly generation meetings, site‑based meetings, inter‑siting reporting, and digester health‑check reporting.
• Provide evidence‑based recommendations to support operational decision‑making.
• Identify and develop potential Process Improvement opportunities across sites delivering Operational Expenditure (OPEX) reduction, Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) optimisation, Cost Avoidance.
• Initiate, develop, manage and implement projects within the EoW Programme, delivering multi‑million‑pound “spend to save” capital investments.
• Act as the technical interface between Operations and internal and external stakeholders.

Necessary requirements for the role

• Full UK Drivers Licence as you will be responsible for operational support onsite for a few sites which require you to travel to site based on business requirement.
• Degree in Engineering (Chemical, Wastewater, Environmental or Mechanical preferred) and / or relevant industry experience and understanding of the wastewater business.
• Understanding of wastewater treatment processes and associated assets across both effluent and sludge streams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with operational and technical stakeholders.
• Hands‑on approach to support reactive process optimisation activities on site.
• Possess analytical and troubleshooting capabilities to identify issues and drive practical and effective solutions.
• Good organisational and prioritisation capabilities.
• Full UK Drivers Licence.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £50,000 per annum depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• 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.
• Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment).

Base location and working pattern

Base location: Hybrid - Chertsey (STW), Hybrid - Crawley (STW), Hybrid - Earlswood (STW), Hybrid - Esher (STW)

Working pattern or hours: 36 hours Mon‑Fri

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. Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Working at 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.

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.