Process Operator

Southern Water; Sittingbourne; Hybrid; GBP 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care cash plan

Competitive Pension

Company and performance-related bonus

Life assurance 4x annual salary

Health benefits through Cash Plan

Two volunteering days a year

28 days annual holiday

Occupational health service

Retail discount app

Job summary

Southern Water in Sittingbourne is seeking a Process Operator to join our frontline operations team. You will help ensure wastewater treatment works and pumping stations run smoothly, complying with environmental and regulatory standards.

The role requires a full UK driving licence, willingness to work outdoors in all weather, and the ability to manage time and tasks independently. A 1-in-5 standby rota and career progression opportunities are included.

Qualifications

• Valid UK manual driving licence.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Adaptable, reliable, and self-motivated.
• Good time management and ability to work independently.
• Keen to learn and operate complex processes.

Responsibilities

• Compliance testing and monitoring.
• Maintenance tasks including unblocking pumps, screens, and valves.
• Repair of alarm systems and fault resolution.
• Monitoring, collating, and reporting data for regulatory compliance.
• Carrying out regular sampling and maintaining sampling equipment.
• Receiving and handling chemical deliveries safely.
• Using IT systems to log maintenance tasks and ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Driving licence

Outdoor work

Time management

Independent work

Willingness to learn

Job description

## Process OperatorApply: SITTINGBOURNE: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: September 29, 2026 (5 days left to apply): JR8930**Closing Date**2026-09-29**Wastewater Process Operator** **Location:** Sittingbourne - you will also need to be willing to travel across multiple sites and have a current full driving licence.**Contract Type:** Permanent**Hours:** 38 hours**Salary:** £29,325 per annum, plus standby and overtime opportunities. (With regular overtime and standby rota participation, your **total gross earnings** can reach **around £34,000 per year**.)Standby rota participation can increase earnings significantly.**Benefits:*** Health Care cash plan cover (with options to upgrade for family coverage)* Competitive PensionFor a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page or see below.# # **About the role**Join our frontline operations team in Kent to ensure wastewater treatment works and pumping stations run smoothly. This role is critical to maintaining compliance, protecting the environment, and delivering excellent service to our customers.# # **What you will be responsible for:*** Compliance testing and monitoring.* Maintenance tasks including unblocking pumps, screens, and valves.* Repair of alarm systems and fault resolution.* Monitoring, collating, and reporting data for regulatory compliance.* Carrying out regular sampling and maintaining sampling equipment.* Receiving and handling chemical deliveries safely.* Using IT systems to log maintenance tasks and ensure safety compliance.# # **Additional Requirements**Participation in a 1-in-5 week standby rota.# # **What you’ll bring to the role:**## Essential* Valid UK manual driving licence.* Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.* Adaptable, reliable, and self-motivated.* Good time management and ability to work independently.* Keen to learn and operate complex processes.## Desirable* Experience in wastewater operations or similar process industries.* Basic mechanical or electrical maintenance skills.# # **Progression opportunities**Southern Water offers career progression, training, and development opportunities.# # **About Southern Water**Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed. At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. *\"At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.\"* If this role isn’t quite what you’re looking for but are keen to be contacted about opportunities at Southern Water, you can register your details here: Introduce Yourself (myworkdaysite.com- Introduce Yourself) **Our Commitment to Diversity**We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. **Additional information:**In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years. Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting. Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.### Interested in the role?* We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so if you are interested in the position please do send your application over today to ensure consideration.* We truly appreciate every application. Please note, that due to the volume of interest, we may not be able to provide personalised feedback to all applicants.### Our Benefits* Company and performance-related bonus* Generous pension* Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary* Health benefits through a Cash Plan* Two paid community volunteering days a year* 28 days annual holiday* Occupational health service* Retail discount app* We offer competitive maternity leave, and flexible return to work options