Process Operator

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care cash plan cover (with opt.

Competitive Pension

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking a Wastewater Process Operator to join our frontline operations in Kent, covering Sittingbourne with travel to multiple sites. This is a permanent, 38-hour-per-week role with a salary of £29,325 and opportunities for standby and overtime, potentially reaching around £34,000 per year.

You will perform compliance testing, maintenance, alarm repairs, data reporting for regulatory compliance, sampling, and handling chemical deliveries.

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

• Conduct compliance testing and monitoring.
• Carry out maintenance tasks including unblocking pumps, screens and valves.
• Repair alarm systems and resolve faults.
• Monitor, collate and report data for regulatory compliance.
• Carry out regular sampling and maintain sampling equipment.
• Receive and handle chemical deliveries safely.
• Use IT systems to log maintenance tasks and ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Valid UK manual driving licence

Comfortable working outdoors in all we

Education

Job description

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 Pension

For 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.'

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.